The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-06-17
THE TARIFF COMMISSION.

There can be no complaint against Presi
dent Arthur on the ground that in his appoint
ment of the members of the tariff commission
he did not fully carry out the object of congress
in making provision tor it. That object was
to take the tariff question out of congress and
to keep it out until after the next presidential
election. In strict accordance with that pur
pose, therefore, the president SO constituted
the commission that every member upon 1t is
rs ignorant Of the matter entrusted TO its in.
vestIgatlon Us congress confessed itself to be
IN deciding that such commission was ne
cessary. OF the nine gentlemen named by the
President 10 constitute the commission ex
Vice President Wheeler and ex.COngressman
Phelps of Missouri are the only two that had
ever been heard of before outside of their own
counties, and both these have declinedto serve
The other seven are confessedly men who
never claimed to have any knowledge OF the
subject except in certain specialties affecting
their own interests. Thus John l.. Hayes Is a
wooden manufacturer, whose only concern is
to have more tariff on wooden fabrics; Henry
w. Oliver is an iron manufacturer and cares
for nothing but that interest; Jacob Amble. Is
. pottery manufacturer and cares only for
more tariff on pottery wares; Austin NJ Gar.
land of Illinois (who ever heard before that
there was such man in Illinois p it seems
also owns wooden factory, and wants more
tariff on wooden goods; Duncan f. Kenner Is
Louisiana sugar planter and of course wants
more tariff on sugar; and j. W. II. Under
wood and II. p. Porter are interested in pig
iron and know and care nothing about the
tariff question except as it immediately affects
that product.
In authorizing the commission congress did
1t with the pretence of turning the subject over
to board of experts" An expert is a man
supposed, from long study, experience and
practice, to have special knowledge upon a
given subject. Such men on the tariff ques-
ton would be David A. Wells, Mr. Atkinson
aud Quincy Adams of Boston, and many 9th.
ers that could be named who have made the
tariff and kindred questions of political econo-
my life study. Instead of that class of men,
however, the president insults the nation by
appointing as experts exactly the men who
know nothing about it and who, from their
position and pursuits, are the least fitted to
deal broadly and honestly with the question.
However, IN the view of having been ap.
pointed to do nothing, the selection is perhaps
incapable of Improvement. The members are
to have $40 day each from the date of their
confirmation by the senate, and with such a
comfortable income they can have a very pleas.
ant summer of it. Their route, the Times
says, us already outlined and will take in Long
Branch, Coney Island and Newport, spend
ing the month of August at Saratoga; then a
trip to the vineyards of California, and an au.
tumn visit to the sugar plantations of Loulsi.
ana" Returning TO Washington il the WIN.
ter, 1t Will of course be impossible to prcpare
report before the end of the short
session, and their term will be extended an
other year, and then until after the presiden.
tial election OF 1884, to make final report.
The whole business Is a wicked dsgraceful
and cowardly fraud, and should bring down
upon the republican leaders in congress re.
sponsible tor 1t hurricane of popular indig.
nation.