Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-07

our people the basic necessities of life.
of which food and clothing are among
the most important. Moreover, the pro-
tective theory has always assumed that
political freedom and economic indie
pendence are inseparable. This was
indicated in the first act of general
legislation signed by President Wash
ington, and the Republican party has
been a consistent supporter of this
policy.
Prompt Action Urged.
During the campaign of 1923 the
Republican party proposed to the coun-
try that readjustment of the tariff
would be effected. special reference was
made to a readjustment of the tariff cs
a part of the program of relief for agri-
culture. The country responded by the
election of President Hoover with
tremendous vote and by a greatly in
creased Republican membership in this
body. Constituting the result of the
election as an authorization and direc-
ton to this Congress to readjust the
tariff duties. upon its assembling in De-
cember, 1928, it was decided to begin
promptly this work. The initiation OF
revenue legislation is confided by the
Constitution to the House of Repre-
sentatives. The committee on ways and
means is its agency for the preparation
of such legislation for its consideration.
Early in December, 1928. the members
of the committee of the SEVENTEEN
Congress, all but one of whom had been
reelected to membership in this Con-
gress, met and arranged for the work.
Following the presidents, notice was
A1zrs1 - lRa If he
try. and otherwise, that hearings would
begin on January z. 1929. The entire
committee were present at the hearings,
which covered more than six weeks.
The committee sat morning and after
moons and many evenings. Over LOO
persons were heard orally and some
300 more submitted briefs without en-
tering a personal appearance, and some
IL 900 pages of testimony were taken.
Each witness was assigned definite
time for uninterrupted statement, and
after the conclusion Of such statement
the members of the committee ques-
toned the witnesses.
Foreign nations and producers have
show. great interest in this readjuSt-
ment, but since the tariff Is a domestic
matter neither foreign officials nor the
nationals of foreign nations were heard,
except that representations of foreign
governments were submitted through
the State Department and made part
of our record. Persons not citizens of
the United States, but who are doing
business in the United States, were also
heard. We appreciate the Importance
. of our relations to foreign countries
| and that under the comfy of nations,
our nationals have the privilege of
trading in their territories as their
nationals have of trading in ours, but
We have believed that our first duty was
to our own people and to maintenance
OF their prosperity.
Foreign nations are discouraging
our customs agents from obtaining in
formation on costs of production abroad
ana some prohibit such agents from
making the necessary investigations.
Thls practice, as can readily be in
| ferred, has prevented the committee
from obtaining useful information in
many instances.
However, information was obtainable
from foreign trade journals, invoices
and other sources by which it was pos-
slble to determine the differences in
! competitive conditions.
The American market is the greatest
IN the world. It receives domestic
products of new goods, wares and COM
modities or those made in new and
disable forms in the amount of some
ninety billion dollars worth annually
Our foreign trade amounts to about 10
per cent of this amount. The Aneri-
can market. therefore, is more impor.-
tant to the Americans than the foreign
market, but foreign trade is an essential
factor in our economic life. Goods
wares and commodities made for that
trade cause the purchase of raw ma
| terials and employ labor here; also
articles made abroad sent to this coun-
try deprive industry here of opportun-
ity for operations and American labor
employment in making such articles.
We have endeavored to hold an even
course, mindful that our first duty is to
the people Of the United States, and