The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1908. TARIFF REVTSION IN AMERICA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13488, 9 January 1908, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1908. TARIFF REVTSION IN AMERICA.

One of our cable messages tliio morning contlim.s the opinion we have ■expressed' nil several occasions within recent months ihut tariff revision must soon step into a foremost, place in American politics. The movement, has taken a different form from what, we anticipated, but there is plenty of tinifi yet. for the President t'o assume the leadership of the crusade for lower duties instead of remaining content with bestowing his approval upon ill.- Rill introduced by a piivate member. Of rouiti-s tlie measure so briefly summarised in the cablegram may lj • nothing more than an a>iutn lliove> to stem the popular clamour for a reduction in the tariff, because the Commissioners whom it is propr.eed to appoint for the purpose of making enquiries into the question, are to bs allowed five years within which to make their report. Tho next presidential elec- , tion will bo well over before that report appears, and the Republicans, whose fiscal policy is one of etrong protection, would thus be enabled to escape the growing demand for a revision of the tariff. Not so long ago it seemird as if it.' would be impossible for the party to burk the tariff isisiia in the approaching campaign. Mr Taft, Secretary for War. who lias been commonly regarded as the probable successor of Mr Roosevelt in the Republican interest.' lux. •:-X|>res;ed the conviction thai. "no man 'can win the next election who dues not favour changes in the tariff," while, some of flu most pronounced protectionist organs, such as the "New York Tribune," have admitted the strength of the popular demand for an overhauling of the schedules. Professor Lauglilin, of Chicago, who has devoted considerable study 'to this particular question, declares that- " the time is ripe for a campaign against the excesses and abuses of protectionism." The introduction of tho measures referred to in this morning's cablegrams is an admission on the pait of Mr Roosevelt, who has authorised tlieir promotion, that the demand: for tariff revision can no longer be ignored, though, a.3 we have said, the procedure laid down in the Bills may easily mean the lengthy postponement, of anything practical in the way of relief for the. consumer who lias to pay the price of protection. However, Ihe point of importanee to New Zealand, which in a large •measure lias adopted the fecal policy of tli3 United' States, in the evidence we have in these Bills of a popular distrust of high protection. 111 America protection began with the imposition of duties of a fairly low standard, put on for the encouragement of infant industries, but when priva'e interests had once established a hold upon the country, Ihev lost no time in demanding higher and higher tariff walls, and showed themselves ready to provide fighting funds for the political pairy that would give them what they wanted. Despite periodic demands for reduction, they have contrived, not merely to retain, but actually to increase, their special privileges. 'ln the early eighties of last century, when the surplus revenue was running into a, hundred million dollars u year, and the. people were giowing restive, a Tariff Commission was set up which reported in favour of a 20 or 25 per cent, reduction. Yet the Tariff Act of 1883 maud only a lew formal remissions, • and actually raised the duties on woollen cloths and dress goods, cotton hosiery, machinery, and a number .of other item.s. In 1890 the McKinley Act. imposed still higher duties and taxed goods "" which had hitherto bsn free. This brought about, a great reaction, which gave the Democrats the Presidency and the control of both houses of Congress. In 1894 they passed the Wilson Act, lowering duties, especially on raw materials ; but in 1896 (lie Democrats were bealen on Mr Biyan'e free-silver platform, and tho Republicans who, as a party, are dependent 011 protected interests, used their victory on the money issue to raise duties under tha Dingley tariff to the highest point ever known in the United .States. Since their crushing defeat in 1892, the protectionist managers of the Republican party have never allowed the tariff to become tha main question at an election, and it is quite possible that the present Bills are a clever device to keep the coming campaign free from it. That, however, is merely a matter of domestic interest, to America itself. What is of importance to other countries enamoured of a p'.ohibitively protectionist policy is the clear teaching of American experience that the public in a highly protected State are in time forced to defend themselves against, crushing abuses developed out of the fiscal system which is expected to bring nothing but a wealth of employmnt and prosperity in its train.