New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-22
rApIEE LNTESTLGATION.

The selection of Mr.. Kelley fol- chairman OF
the Committee of Ways and Means probably
stops interference with the tariff for year at
least. With all his faults-and they are not
few-Mr. Kelley has one shining virtue lie
does not favor action upon economic or lndus-
trial questions without ample investigation.
Unlike some other members, he knows enough
of those subjects TO be aware that they need
careful and thorough examination, and that the
country cannot afford to legislate bllndioid
where the prosperity of its most important IN
dustries is involved. Il is much gained If Con-
gress will appreciate this fact. The legislation
which Mr.. Kelley prefers may not he III all re-
spects the wisest possible, but 1t Is great thlng
TO have, as chairman of the most important
committee of the House, member who does
not believe in egislating in the dark.
Two propositions for the Investigation OF the
! tariff question are pending. The Democratic
plan, as formulated by Senator Garland, pro
vides for hasty inquiry by Commission COM
posed of three Senators, three Representatives
and three civilians. A report must be made,
according to this plan, before the present ses-
| sion of Congress adjOurus. Members say, Ill
| justification of this scheme, that everybody
knows all about the tariff already, that the
votes of Senators and Representatives Will not
| be changed by ANYTHING that can he dlscoy-
| cred and that the country needs speedy action.
| But it is not true that the country Is impatient
| for change of tariff. On the contrary, the pre-
vailing opinion is that the existing laws work
! fairly we'll and that no immediate change OF
! laws is necessary. But is it true that members
| OF Congress have nothing to learn on tins DIM
cult question: How many members are there
for example, who know the meaning of the
provisions of the present tarib 7 Every word
| in that law may involve millions to somebody.
| How many members can tell whether an IN
| crease or decrease in the duty on either OF Il
thousand articles would help or hurt the IN
! dnstries of the country If members do not
know what the present law means, or what its
| effect Is, how can they vote lntcllgchty Oh Z"
proposal to change the duties
The law that we have Is the result of twenty
wears of experience. Every line and every
word in it has been tested. Though members
| of Congress may not know what 1t means, there
are active business men who consider the I'M
port of each word, and the bearing OF every
| Treasury decision rs to each word. They know
that the net result of it is prosperity. Each
knows what is the net result OF the law as to
his especial business Members of Congress
cannot vote for any change without assuming II
great responsibility, aud they will not take that
responsibility, if they are wise, without the
utmost care and the fullest possible iniCrma-
i ton.
An investigation to end before the present
! session of Congress ends would he farce.
| The ahlcst expert in the country would not I'M
dertake to give positive advice as to each oil a
thousand articles subject to duty, within SIX
months if the inquiry is to be blocked at every
stage by the political interests OF members OF
| Congress. Hence the proposal to commit the
! Congress is not the best. Almost every mem
Der has some especial interest, which his con
stituents wish to have considered. IL would be
more easy for members themselves TO vote for
changes recommended by n Commission of eX-
perts, some of those changes being adverse To
| the present interests of active and influential
| constituents than to vote for the same changes
without such support. But no modification of
the tariff can be devised. however nccdful for
| the protection of industries rs a whole, that
will not seem hurtful to some individuals.
Congress ought to seek, first and most anx-
| iously, full and accurate information as to the
effect of proposed changes. II is moro likely to
get that information from Commission Of ex-
members of Congress