The Detroit times., 1912-08-10
PRESIDENT TAFT
PUTS HIS VETO ON
WOOL TARIFF BILL
Says LaFollette Measure Would
Work Irretrievable Injury
to Industry
TARIFF BOARD JUSTIFIED
!, SIMILAR ACT LAST YEAR
Insists Course is in Keeping
With Platform Upon Which
He Was Elected

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-Veto OF
the wool tariff bill was emphatically
expressed by President Taft In a
special message to congress today.
appealing to the legislators that they
do not adjourn without taking ad-
vantage OF the plain opportunity.
substantially to reduce duties, by
framing protective bill along the
lines recommended by the tariff
board.
That the LaFollette bill was not
drafted from the boards recon-
mendations and would result in "ir-
retrievable injury TO the wool grow
ing industry, the enforced idleness OF
much OF our wool combing and spin
ming machinery, and OF thousands OF
looms, and the consequent throwing
out OF employment OF thousands or
workmen," was asserted by the pres
ident as the specific reason why he
refused TO approve the measure.
my position is perfectly plain,
the president declared. Il shall
stand by my pledges to maintain a
degree OF protection necessary to on
set the difference in cost OF produc-
! tion here and abroad. and will
heartily approve OF any bill reducing
duties TO this level"
His veto of an exactly similar wool
bill last summer the president said.
had been completely justified" by
the tariff board.
The minimum ad valorem duty OF
te9 per cent on raw wool In the bill
was inadequate for protection. Taft
asserted. II should be at least 80
per cent, according to the tariff
board.
The average OF from 2S to "a per
cent duty on cloths of all kinds, he
said, was also insufficient.
impossible OF justification" was
she presidents comment on the du-
ties on tops and yarns. when taken
In connection with the raw wool and
cloth duties.
"In view of these facts. in view OF
the platform upon which / was
elected. in view OF my promise to
follow and maintain the protective
policy, no course is open TO me but
TO withhold my approval from this
bill" the message concluded. Il am
very much disappointed that such a
bill is a second time presented to me.
/ have inferred from the speeches
made In both the House and senate
that members of the majority in
both houses are deeply impressed
with l. necessity OF reducing the
tariff under the present act on wool
and woolens: that they do not pro-
pre- to stand on the question of the
amount OF protection or to insist that
IL must be enough necessarily to sat
isfy the principle of tariff for rev.
enue only. but that they are willing
TO accept a substantial reduction IN
present rates in order that the peo-
pie might be relieved from the possi-
bility of oppressive prices due to ex-
cessive rates"
II strongly desire to reduce duties,
provided only the protection system
be maintained, and that industries
now established be not destroyed"
the message continued 1T now ap-
pears from the tariff boards report
and from hins- which have been in
trod- - az
90 as to ue within tue se,. rents
Of protection, and still offer a reduc-
tion OF 20 per cent on most wool and
OF from 20 to so per cent on clths. | |
cannt act on the assumption that the
controlling majority In either house
will refuse to pass a bill OF this kind. |
II in fact 1t accomplishes so substan.
tial a reduction, merely because mem
bers Of the opposing party and the |
executive unite In its approval.
IL appeal TO congress to reconsider |
the measure-and to adopt a substi. |
tute making substantial reductions
which the tariff board shows possible, |
without destroying any established in.
dustry, or throwing any wage-earners
out of employment. and which
promptly approve"