Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-03
Are They Hedging?
Houston Post (Dem)l

Houston POST (Detn.)J
Washington advices are to the efTec:
that between S325.000.000 and $35O,0OO,-
600 viii! have to be raised by the tariff
legislation Of the next congress, which
indicates that there Is not likely to be
any far-reaching extension of the free
list. Thus we see how greatly tha
tariff question has changed during the
past twenty five years as a result Of
the constant increase in the cost OF
government. In 1883. there was de-
rived from customs the sum OF S219.-
600, 900. Therefore. we must now OBJ
tain from that source more than $780,
900 900 a year more than vas needed
then.
But for the increasing expenses OF
government our tariff problem would
be of an entirely different character
OF course, tariff reduction in many
cases would increase the revenue, but
it will be found. no doubt, that unless
other sources of revenue are discovered
it will be necessary to tax nearly al!
the imports to obtain the needed
wherewithal to defray the govern
mentS expenses.
Later on the income tax will be
levied and that will take some OF the
burdens from imports and enable fur
Their reductions. but for the present
moderate reductions all along the line
and a readjustment of some of the
more important schedules will be about
all the tariff revision that can be un
dertaken.
There Is widespread belief that
exorbitant duties are wholly responsible
for the high cost Of living about which
there is such general complaint, but
investigation is showing that the tariff
is not wholly to blame. Food com :
binations in the large cities and indus.
trial combinations play an important
part in lifting price levels, and these
will have to be attacked otherwise
than by tariff legislation If tangible re-
suits are to be bad.
We are ascertaining, too. that food
production in the United States is not
keeping pace with the increase Of pop
ulation. and with the constant growth
of foreign demand for our food pro-
ducts. prices for the domestic supply
naturally ascend.
It will be important for the demo-
cratic leaders to make a careful an
alysis of the situation and enlighten
the country upon true conditions
otherwise the relief to be had thru
tariff reduction will be very disappoin.-
ing to the country. The cost Of liv-
ing is rising thruout the world This
Is especially true of focdstuffs. It is
also true that the tendency of wages
thru the world is upward With the
cost of production gradually rising. the
cost of living can not be very much
reduced until there is better adjust
ment of industry.
In the United States the flow Of pop
ulation from the farms to the cities
is having a profound effect in an eco
nomic sense. There are too many peo-
pie buying food and a wholly made
quate number producing it.
It would be unfortunate II the peo-
pie were led to expect too much Of the
tariff revision soon to be undertaken
for disappointment might result in q
loss Of confidence in the democracy al
critical time. If the cost Of living
is to be greatly reduced during the
next administration, a determined and
intelligent move against the food com
bines will have to be undertaken, fol
as matters now stand these are in 8
position to absorb most Of the benefits
to be derived from, thrift reduction.