Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-07-22
ABOUT THE TARIFF

which may be implied In the ques-
tions OF Mr.. C. Z. Smith respecting
the tariff are rather calculated to
excite apprehension. IL the editor
were capable of explaining all the
,arin schedules. the chairmanship Of
the proposed tariff commission at a
handsome salary might easily be one
OF the possibilities confronting him.
At any rate the drudgery OF the
new spaper Office would pail and IL
he did not become subject for an
alienist his future would be bright
indeed. For If there is any need,
other than a fuel supply at the pres
ent moment more conspicuousy
thrust on the public attention than
the need OF exact Information re-
specting the tariff. II has escaped
notice.
with regard 20 the meat schedule.
MFR Smith appears TO adopt the views
OF Senator Walsh OF Massachusetts,,
which state may wish for a tariff
on us manufactures but none on the
product OF the farmers which comes
from outside the state. The Con-
Eresslonnl Record being voluminous
these days we are unable to find
..a.. -. ,kc rn,iI.s r,adn ~ 9opa
tor walsh and which might enlight-
en- Mr. Smith. senator McCumber's s
remarks in the Senate June -
would lie instructive. He would
Marcely agree with our que,tioner'S
view that the only wage cost to be
considered is that paid I'm the pack
Ing and slaughtering. He would
try to recognize the wage cost of
the grower OF tie meat and of get
ting II 10 the packer. And IL this
may he done with benefit to the
grower. who is entitled to his share.
we see no injustice in IT. though the
consumer do have to pay a trifle
more. Of course. there is an ar
ray OF argument to the effect that
'he grower cannot secure this bene-
~, but IL Is evident that he thinks
othsrwise. McCumber put IL rather
neatly when he said: Senators on
the other side seem to be afraid of
.tpling one horn or other OF the d.
ismma. They want to say two
things. they want 10 say first, that
the duties on these food products
do not increase the prices, and there
fore they do not do the farmer any
good. and In the next breath they
want TO say 10 the city dweller that
they do increase the prices. and
therefore that they harm him."
We had before us n few days ago
a bat. which cost 96 cents In Eng
land ana was sold In New York for
81 The duty on the hat was so per
cent ad,alorem. The duty. therefore,
would have leen ~ cents"
Did those New York dealers take
the tarin into consideration when
they sold the hat for 81 or later
when they sold IL on a mark down
for st25? bid the tariff help the
New York dealer TO rob the con-
sumner, though 80 per cent adva-
iorem' on the contrary. might it
not afford encouragement to hat
makers In this country, and might
II not he possible that enough OF
duty would 80 encourage hat making
here--and they make good hats in
America--that the increased pro-
duction OF hats would result in a
lower price 10 the consumer? And
10 this does not always follow be-
cause of some other influence at
work. II Is principle which has
wrought great benefits In this coun-
try and better times have followed
the making OF a tariff which recog-
nized the value OF that principle.
The country was told at the last
Presidential election that the Re-
publicnns would make that kind OF
tariff ana the country overwhelm-
insly approved.
Mr.. Smith apparently is convinced
the tariff invariably is added to the
price 20 tho consumer. notwith-
standing the country Is full OF evil
dence today that the price is fixed
so far as possible for all that the
traffic will bear. tariff or no tariff.
but increased production over . Pc
riod OF time must tend to lower what
the trafYic will bear.
And here is n question asked by
Senator Broussard. whom the Dem
ccrats OF Louisiana elected 70 the
Senate:
whenever sugar In mentioned
senators are selecting one Of the ar
ticles which disprovcs the very ar
Humcnt made on this eide Of the
Chamber. They read q, list OF agri-
cultural products and say that the
tarin did not increase the price Of
.-r'culturai products In the country.
and yet turn around and argue that
We are now increasing the gate, and