The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-03-24
The First Duty of Congress


Practically all nations have ad-
vanced or are planning to advance
their Tariff schedules. Some of the
duty increases, as we'll as some of the
administrative restrictions, including
embargoes, have been directed ex-
pressly against the products of this
country. None of the governments
involved have consulted US in the
matter, but have planned their Tariffs
with the views of Protecting their
own interests. That is wholly proper.
Not only have other nations in
creased their rates of duty and their
restrictions, but they have also plan
ned TO take advantage of our present
Free-Trade Tariff and flood our
markets with their own products,
aiming to sell in ''the best markets in
the world" That designation is no
misnomer, for we are free buyers.
able to pay high prices and prompt in
payment. We are not niggardly in
our expenditures. On the contrary,
we run too much to the other ex-
IRENE. Not only have other nations
PLANNED" to invade our markets, but
they have actually done So In agri-
cultural products, Canada has sold US
nearly 80 million bushels of wheat in
the past year, and Argentina has sold
US nearly million bushels of corn,
and that at a time when we have such
a surplus that we cannot find
market for all our product. Under
Free-Trade, we have been buying of
others instead of buying at home,
while the domestic product is rotting
in the bins.
Our markets have been flooded with
British textile fabrics, while our own
mills have been obliged to close their
own doors. Nor is the end in sight.
Pending the adoption of new Tariff,
foreigners are planning to rush as
many of their products as possible
into our markets under the present
Free-Trade Tariff. With 300 million
dollars worth foreign value) of for
eign products now in our bonded
warehouses which can be entered for
consumption on a days notice, and
with millions of dollars worth of
other foreign products yet to come,
it is imperative that the Congress
provide some way to prevent this
flooding of our markets with foreign
products without the payment of ade-
quate duty, and with the resultant in
jury to our domestic productive in
dustries. 1t will take months, or even
years, for our producers to recover
from the effects of this flooding of
our markets with alien products. In
deed some producers will go to the
wall and never recover, unless Pro-
lection is afforded and afforded at
once.
The only feasible remedy is the re-
adoption of the Tariff Act of 1909 as
an interim measure. We do not claim
that this would be wholly effective
under present conditions, but it is the
best thing that can be done to meet
the emergencyN The provisions OF
the said act have been construed and
there would no uncertainty result
from its re-enactment. Certainly 1t
would afford more Protection
and more revenue than the
law now in force, and It
would give the Congress more
needed time in which to prepare "a
Tariff measure which will be in har-
mony with present conditions. The
need is great and the duty of the
Congress is plain. Re-enact the
Payne-Aldrich Tariff as an interim
measure, as the first duty undertaken.
American. Economist.