Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-09

! later imam DSCeiHDeT, 1907, anu the LeStl-
mony taken is to be printed from time to
| time and furnished to members of Con-
gress By the public printer. In this bill
\ the whole work is intrusted to men from
civil life, but Randall has introduced
an amendment which provides for
| Commission to be composed of two
Senators, three Representatives and
four experts There has been great diff
ference of opinion as to the composition of
the Commission, and neither its friends nor
its opponents are at all agreed upon what
is the best arrangement. a Commission
wholly composed of Congressman has had
its supporters, while others have favored a
mixed Commission, and yet others have
demanded one consisting entirely OF out
siders. And it must be admitted that
there are arguments of some force to he ad.
Yanced in support of each of these plans
A Commission composed of Congressmen
alone, however, seems to be the least felic-
itous of the three. Such body would
unavoidablY bring to the work political
bias which could not but affect its conclu-
sions. Politicians could not SO divest
themselves of considerations as to the polit.
ical consequences of proposed changes as
to adjudge the complex questions before
them with complete impartiality. They
would moreover be influenced largely by
their party connections, and would be GER
tain to regard such issues as Free Trade
and Protection from the standpoint of these
affiliations.
A Commission of Congressman also would
be unlikely to address itself to the task
before it in sufficiently earnest and thor
ough manner. The characteristics of all
Congressional Investigations hitherto have
been diffuaeness. disorder, and want of
coherence. Such Commissions have ap.
peared to think that it was only necessary
to accumulate mass of statistics and tes-
timopy, and to lump it all together in the
crudest possible shape. The many volumes
issued from the Government press as the
outcome of these inquiries have been ag-
gravatingly chaotic, as rule. We cannot
at present recall single instance of work
manlike arrangement in this connection,
in fact, and therefore the probabilities are
strongly against the scientific value of any
report prepared by Tariff Commission
consisting of Congressman alone. A mixed
Commission perhaps promises better, though
here, as in the proposal of the Ways and
Means Committee, almost everything must
depend upon the character of the men ap-
pointed. 1t would certainly be possible
for the President to select nine persons
from civil life who could and would work
together tremendously and intelligently in
such cause, bat when we reflect upon the
nature of the influences which are sure to
be brought to bear upon the Executive it
iz impossible to feel very ssnguine as to
the result 1t seems probable that an eff.
fort would be made to secure equal repre-
sentation for both sides on the Commits
sion. That is the kind of arrangement
which usually suggests itself to the average
politician, who is always fond of COM
"promises. Bat compromise of such d
nature would be very apt to produce
practical notification of the objects aimed
at, since it can neither be supposed that
the rival theorists would convert, or yield
to, one another.
OF course it is possible, by sufficient
INSCRIPTIONS use of the appointing power,
to obtain Tariff Commission which would
merely fortify the positions of the Protec
tionists. If. however, any good is to be
effected by this inquiry, it will be neces.
sary to select men of honor, character and
firmness, as well as knowledge of the SUBJ
iect. The scope of inquiry as outlined in
the bill reported by the Ways and Means
Committee is so extensive that it would be
quite impossible to cover it in the time
allowed. A Commission which is to act
only about six months cannot hope to make |
an elaborate examination of all the business |
OF the United States. Unless, therefore,
il is very judiciously managed it may make
the fatal mistake of trying to accomplish
too much. But il it proceeds methodi-
cally to inquire into the operation of the
tariff as it exists, and if the results of its
inquiries are given to the country with due
candor and fullness, no man who has looked
- hi,oR o. al AL.1 -
will furnish the most conclusive reasons
for radical revision.
There are few men in civil life whose
labors and studies have marked them out
in a special way as the most eligible men,
beIs of such Commission. If they are
passed over in making the appointments,
indeed, it will be equivalent to an an
nouncement that something else than the
truth is desired by Congress. It is pos
sible that the change in the tone of public
opinion on the question of Protection may
have convinced that body of the necessity
of consenting to full and dispassionate
Investigation. Nothing less can satisfy the
VI luS anu Nllle III
is certain that the President will be sub.
jected to great importantly in regard to his
appointments, he cannot afford to tamper
with the usefulness of the Commission by
putting upon it any men known to be mere
obstructives, or to be absolutely committed
to extreme Protectionist views Men like
David A. Wells, J. S. Moore, Professor
Sumner, Horace White, ought to be Sc
lected. Their names would be guarantees
for faithful and thoroughgoing work, and
the country would know that their meth
DDS would be exact and scientific. OF
course to make Tariff Commission of
unknown civilians would be even a
greater mistake than to compose it entirely
Of politicians.
A NICARAGUA CANAL BOOM.