Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-16

Seven years of experience under the
tariff bill enacted in 1922 have
demonstrated the wisdom of con-
gress in the enactment Of that
measure. On the whole it has
worked well. In the main vi
wages have been maintained at high
levels; our exports and imports have
steadily increased; with some ex-
ceptionS our manufacturing indus
tries have been prosperous. Never
theless, economic changes have
taken place during that time, which
have placed certain domestic prod
ucts at a disadvantage and new in
dustrieS have come into being, all of
which creates the necessity for some
limited changes in the schedules
and in the administrative clauses of
the laws as written in 1922.
Consider Country's Interests
It would seem to me that the test
of necessity for revision is in the
main whether there mas been a sub
stantial slackening of activity in an
industry during the past few years,
and a consequent decrease of en-
ployment due to insurmountable
competition in the products Of that
industry. 1t is not as if we were
setting up q new basis Of protective
| duties. We did that seven years
ago. What we need to remedy now
is whatever substantial loss Of en-
ployment may have resulted from
shifts since that time.
No discrimination against any
| foreign industry is involved in equal
izing the difference in costs Of pro-
duction at home and abroad and
thus taking from foreign producers
the advantages they derive from
paying lower wages to labor. IN
deed, such equalization is not only
a measure Of social justice at home,
but by the lift it gives to our stan
dardS of living we increase the de-
nand for those goods from abroad
that we do not ourselves produce.
IN a large sense we have learned
that the cheapening Of the toiler de-
| creases rather than promotes per-
manent prosperity because 1t re-
duces the consuming power Of the
people.
In determining changes In our
tariff we must not fail to take into
account the broad interests of the
| country as a whole, and such inter
ests include our trade relations with
other countries. 1t is obviously un-
wise protection which sacrifices q
greater amount Of employment in
exports to gain a less amount of
employment from imports.
Tariff Revision Needed
I am Impressed with the fact that
we also need important revision in
some Of the administrative phases
upon a basis Of higher salaries in
order that we may at all times COM
mand men Of the broadest attain
ments. Seven years OF experience
have proved the principle of flexible
tariff to be practical, and in the
long view a most important prin-
ciple to maintain. However. the
basis upon which the tariff commits
sion makes it recommendations to
the president for administrative
changes in the rates Of duty should
be made more automatic and more
comprehensive, to the end that the
time required for determinations by
the tariff commission shall be
| greatly shortened. The formula
upon which the commission must
now act often requires only months.
It's very purpose is defeated by de-
lays I believe a formula a be
found that will insure rapid and ac-
curate determination of needed
changes in rates. With such
strengthening Of the tariff commits
sion and of its basis for action many
secondary changes in tariff can
we'll be left to action of the commits
sion, which at the same time will
give complete security to industry
for the future.
Furthermore, considerable weak
nesses on the administrative side of
the tariff have developed, especially
in the valuations for assessments of
duty. There are cases Of under
valuations that are difficult to dis
cover without access to the books of
foreign manufactures, which they
are reluctant to offer. This has be-
come also a great source Of friction
abroad. There is increasing ship
ment of goods on consignment, par
ticularly by foreign shippers to con-
Germs that they control in the
United States, and this practice
makes valuations difficult to deter
mine. I believe it is desirable to
furnish to the treasury a sounder
basis for valuation in these and
other cases.
Other Measures Up
It Is my understanding that 1t is
the purpose of the leaders of con-
gress to confine the deliberations of
the session mainly to the questions
Of farm relief and tariff. In this
policy, I concur. There are, how
ever, certain matters of emergency
legislation that were partially COM
pleted in the last session, such as the
decennial census. the reapportion-
ment Of congressional representa-
ton, and the suspension of the ma
tional origins clause of the immigra-
tionact Of 1924. together with some
minor administrative authorizations.
/ understand that these measures