The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-18

exposure if they refuse to. keep their
plants running on time, full time, OF
the Underwood Simmons tariff bill.
The administration holds, and backs
it up with statistical matter that the
Underwood bill has. really been an in
strumentality for. lowering the cost of
living. 1t is pointed out that Ameri-
can manufacturers can make an hon
est profit and that certain concerns
that have long had a monopoly of
their products, have been enjoying
huge profits under the protecting tariff
of the republican party.
Their is no argument, officials OF
the administration maintain when the
facts are shown. An example is CIV
en- Of American goods selling in this
country and the marked difference in
price of the same articles sent abroad
and offered to the European and even
the Asiatic at a price far lower than
that which it commands in the Amer
lean market. The only answer to this
state of affairs is, they claim that
American manufacturers and produc-
ers are SLING their surplus abroad
and are reaping large profits from
their c~ountrymen by holding down the
supply of commodities in this country.
Recent agitation here is for the re-
vival of the tariff board created by
1OlIlST f1eSlueuL dit II Is pOlIlLSu
out that European countries have
they are the salvation of the nations
who have adopted this means of sci
entifically regulating the price of ne
cessities in their respective countries.
Under the regulations adopted by the
Taft tariff commission, the original
cost Of production furnished the foun-
dalton Of the duty to be. assessed.
This 1t is held is the only just way in
which to regulate the business Of the
country and at the same time give to
the consumer the necessities Of life,
taller, at a fair and reasonable price.
Under the present management of
congress fixing the duty to be assess
ed by the government on all imports
and to say just what the producer
shall be allowed to reap from his COM
modities or products by either a pro
tecting tariff or a low tariff, is, it is
held by those who while legislators
themselves believe to be a bad sys-
tenn. But on the other hand, it is
pointed out that congress is not yet
ready to allow this all important
legislative prerogative to slip through
its fingers.
And in the meantime, just what is
the United States doing in this re-
spect? AS far as can be ascertained,
the department of justice is the only
department of the government that
can handle the situation and to that
extent it will be instrumental in guar
anteelng to the people a lower cost Of
living than has been evident before. is
very problematical. 1t can invoke the
Sherman law by declaring monopolies
that are illegal, illegal and causing
their disintegration. It can bring the
individual before the bar Of justice
and may be send those individuals to
Jail. 1t is now after the cold storage
trust, but just what the cold storage
trust is. has not yet been found out.
Attorney General McReynolds. how
ever, is keen on the scent and has sent
out many investigators. If there are
any guilty one, it is his purpose to
railroad them for their offenses as
soon as justice and the courts can be
prevailed upon to accomplish. that
work.
Whether our Canadian neighbors
will be more likely to root out the
cause of the high cost of living, de-
pends, of course to a large extent If
actual conditions will warrant a mark
ed decrease in the price of the neces-
stiles and whether the Canadian gov
eminent can prevail upon its produce.
ers 10 manufacture and grow a bigger
supply than there is demand for.
At all event, Washington is ex-
tremely interested in the course that
Sir Wilfrid Laurier is pursuing and
Just what the Borden ministry will do
to meet the latest cry Of the politician
Of Canada.