Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
"In considering the tariff for other industries than agriculture, we find
that there have been economic shifts necessitating a readjustment of some
of the tariff schedules. Seven years of experience under the tariff bill
enacted in 1922 have demonstrated the wisdom of Congress in the enactment
of that measure. On the whole it has worked well. In the main our wages
have been maintained at high levels; our exports and imports have steadily
increased; with some exceptions our manufacturing industries have been
prosperous. Nevertheless, economic changes have taken place during that
time which have placed certain domestic products at a disadvantage and new
industries have come into being, all of which create the necessity for some
limited changes in the schedules and in the administrative clauses of the
laws as written in 1922.
"It would seem to me that the test of necessity for revision is, in the
main, whether there has been a substantial slackening of activity in an
industry during the past few years, and a consequent decrease of employment
due to insurmountable competition in the products of that industry. It is
not as if we were setting up a new basis of protective duties. We did that
seven years ago. What we need to remedy now is whatever substantial loss of
employment may have resulted from shifts since that time.
"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 interests include
our trade relations with other countries." No condition has arisen in my
view to change these principles stated at the opening of the special
session. I am firmly of the opinion that their application to the pending
revision will give the country the kind of a tariff law it both needs and
wants. It would be most helpful if action should be taken at an early
moment, more especially at a time when business and agriculture are both
cooperating to minimize future uncertainties. It is just that they should
know what the rates are to be.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account