The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-05-20
oURranIFr COMMISSION.

For some months past no question n
American politics has been so extensively
aeitated as the tariff, and particularly the
formation of the commission to report to
congress with reference to this subject-mat
ter. The creation of the tribunal WAS
holly contested, but it has seemed wise to
our legislators to form it. and we must nov
be governed TO great extent by its deter
limitations. Many of the representatives
and senators refuse to support the measure
for fear that the discretionary power LETT
to the president might be abused and
Others refused their support from this,
that and the other consideration. The
bill, however, is PROFESSIONALLY one of the
most opportune and useful which has been
drafted for decade past and we rejoice in
new hope that our national representa-
tives have sufficient intelligence and cour-
age to see and declare that above all things
else our tariff list needs revision. Many
have been the apprehensons rs to the
composition Of this tribunal, should the
bill pass, but our our dispatches from
Washington, of recent date seem to set all
such fears at naught. PRESIDENT Arthur
may be merely politician, and know little
about the intrcacies of craftsmanship, but
he occasionally hits the nail on the head.
Such is the case with the tariff commission.
The composition of that body, as before IN
timated, belongs to the president, and 1t is
possible for him to so constitute it that,
whatever may be his views on the subject,
will prevail in the committee. 1t was this
fact more than anything else that innu-
enccd members in their opposition to the
bill. 1t is source of great pleasure, how
ever, to the friends of tariff revision to be
able to say that most marked and unan-
ticipatedly wise policy seems to be con
trolling the president. 1t is understood that
he proposes, in spite of all solicitation,
to appoint. as members of the com
mission only disintcrested, yet intelligent
men whose report may be depended upon
as Il faithful expose Of the various and
troublesome questions arising under the
present protective laws OF this country. On
this subject the New York Herald says
to see intrusted with this important work a
body of men the tenor of whose report could
be confidently predicted from the date OF
the announcement of their names. A com
mission laid down on these lines would
not give satisfaction to any one,
an would be certain to result in
future and disappointment all around. y
II there IL one thing above another that we
desire unbiased information with reference
to these United States, ii is this matter OF
tariff, and PRESIDENT Arthur cannot be
too cautious in the selection of the mate
rails of the commission referred to, We do
not want specialists thereon, or men di-
rectly or indirectly committed to anything,
protective or otherwise. The United
States needs nothing from Legislative
standpoint SO much as thorough and
intelligent ovcrhauiing of the present
tariff system, aud no movement il
congressional halls for years past
has been of such import to us as the es
tablishment of this same commission. Il
will be but u milestone hanged around GU
necks, however, if its composition indicates
white-washing, or anything else other thar
the pure facts of the case. We have beer
operating for some years past under tn,
most iniquitous protective duties, perhaps
now in existence among the civilized PEG
pies of the globe, and, year by year, til,
masses have not only been getting poorer
but have actually been ground down Mt tn,
expense of the few and the dotermi
a nation to correct the evil is not n matte
of policy or sentiment or confined to Gil
cumscribed limits, but is coextensive wit
the country, and as national movement
is entitled to the most liberal and wisos
treatment by the president. We therefor
| trust that the commission as provided 70
by the bill, will be created ont nf the bes
and most practical and unprecedented ma
terial In the country, II such be the case
We may nationally anticipate permanent
and the most necessary changes in GU
present crude and unjust tariff system
The president Is, indeed, entitled to tn
fullest credit for his disposition to see tina
no jobs are wrapped up in what is designe,
to be simply and purely reformation.