The Mankato free press., 1921-12-09

of none of our own which make foI
, employment and maintained actlvi
ties.
Every contemplation, it little mat
tiers in y which direction one turns
magnifles the difficulty of tariff legis-
lation, but the necessity of the revi-
sion is magnified with it, Doubtless
We are justified in seeking a more
flexible policy than we have provided
heretofore. | hope a way will be
found to make for fiexibility and elas-
ITCHY, so that rates may be adjusted
to meet unusual and changing condi-
tions, which cannot be accurately an
| ticipated. There are problems Incl
dent to unfair practices, and to ex-
changes which madness in money
have made almost unsolvable. I know
of no manner in which to effect this
! fiexibility other than the extension oi
the powers of tariff commissions. sc
i that it can adapt itself to scientific
and wholly just administration of the
law. ...
Meet Constitutional Difficulties
"I am not unmindful of the consti
tutional difficulties. These can be
met by giving authority to the CHIEF
executive who could proclaim addi-
tional duties to meet conditions which
the congress may designate.
"At this point l must disavow any
desire to enlarge the executives
powers or add to the responsibility. oi
the office. They are already toe
large; II there Is any other plan
"The grant of authority to proclaim
| would necessarily bring the tarifl
commission into new and enlarged
activities, because no executive could
discharge such duty except upon the
information acquired and recommen
dations by this commission But the
| plan is feasible, and the proper func-
| tioning of the board would give US
better administration of defined po-
licy than ever can be made, possible
by tariff duties prescribed without
hexibility: 49,
American Valuations
There is manifest difference oi
| opinion about American valuation
many nations have adopted delivery
valuation as the basis for collecting
duties; that is they take the cost oi
importations delivered at the port oi
entry as the basis for levying duty
it is no radical departure, in view OF
dered state of money values, to pro
| vide for American valuation there
cannot be ignored the danger Of such
a valuation, brought to the level oi
our production costs, making our tar
IFS prohibitive. 1t might do so in
many instances where imports ought
to be encouraged. l believe congress
ought well to consider the desirability
of the only. promising nI alternative i've
claimed American valuation, under
prescribed condition, on any given
list of articles imported. ..
"In this proposed fiexfbility author
iZing increases to make conditions Sc
likely to change, there should also be
provision for decreases. A rate may
be Just today and entirely out of pro-
portion six months from today.
Early Decision On Tariff Policy
"fTam sure about public opinion ia
voring the early determination of ouI
tariff policy. There have been. reas
surfing signs of a business revival
from the deep slump which all the
world has been experiencing. Oul
unemployment, which gave us deer
concern only a few weeks ago, has
grown encouragingly less and new
assurances and renewed confidence
will attend the congressional declara-
ton that American industry will be
held secure.
aMuch has been said about protec-
tive policy for ourselves making II
impossible for our debtors to dis
charge their obligations to US. This is
contention not now pressing for de-
cision.
Something more than tariff pro-
lection is required by American agrl
culture, to the farm has come the ear
adjustment. There is actual depres
sion in our agricultural industry while
agricultural prosperity is absolutely
essential to the general prosperity ol
the country.
Call For Permanent Solution
Congress has sought very earnest
! ly to provide relief. 1t has promptly
given such temporary relief as has
been possible but the call is msls
ineuuitable that larger crops lower
the prices and short crops advance
them. No LEGISLATION can cure thai
| fundamental law. But there must be
some economic solution for the ex
cessive variation in returns for agr1
! cultural production.
at is rather shocking to be told
and to have the statement strongly
supported, that 5000. 900 bales OF cot.
| in a given year, actually will be worth
more to the producers than 13 100000
| bales would have been. Equally
shocking the statement.
Eavors Co-operative Marketing.
| equally shocking is the statement
that 700, 100000 bushels of wheat
raised by American farmers woult
bring them more money than billion
bushels. Yet these are not exaggerat-
ed statements. In world where there
are tens of millions of people who
need food and clothing which they
cannot get, such condition is sure tt
indict the social system which makes
it possible. :, AZ
| tribution and marketing. Every prop
er encouragement should be given tf
the CO. operative marketing programs
These have proven very helpful to the
CO operative communities in Europe
"In Russia, the cooperative com
munity has become recognized bull
wark of law and order, and saved in,
dividualism from engulfment in socia
paralysis. Ultimately they will be ac-
credited with the salvation OF Russian
state. There is the appeal for this ex.
pertinent. Why not try it?
Fair Return For Farmers.
"No one challenges the right OF the
farmer to a larger share of what the
consumers pay for his product; no one
can dispute that we cannot live with
out the farmer. He is justified in re.
belling against the transportation cost
Given fair return for his labor, hs
4 ~ e.