Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-07

The bill introduced in the Senate Saturday
by Mr.. Plumb to create a customs commission
and define its duties, which was referred to the
committee on finance, provides that the COM
mission shall consist of five persons appointed
by the President for the term of two three,
four. five and six years respectively, as he shall
denominate; their successors to be appointed
for six years; no more than three to be ap-
pointed from one political party, and no person
engaged or interested in manufactures shall be
appointed as commissioner or shall engage in
any other business, and the salary shall be
$7,5OO per annum. The Office Of the commission
shall be in Washington, and shall be open at
all times for hearings upon subjects committed
to its jurisdiction.
The sections describing the duties of the COM
mission read as follows: 1t shall be the duty of
the said commission to inquire into and ascer-
tain the average price Of commodities on the
importation of which any duty is imposed or
which are on the free list both at wholesale
and retail in the United States, and both in the
United States and in the foreign places Of pro-
duction, sale or shipment for the period of six
months preceding and six months following
any change In the rate of customs duties inn
posed upon such commodities, and this inquiry
shall be carried back period of twenty-five
mission. and shall extend to all facts relating
to demand and supply, domestic and foreign,
which tend to influence prices of such COM
modities, domestic and foreign, and to aid in
determining the true effect of the import duty
or of the change therein in the several cases
upon domestic and foreign prices, and upon
production of the same or of other commodi-
ties. upon revenue. upon immigration, upon
profits of capital, rates of wages, and the gen.
eral welfare.
TT.
tlty and value of the importation of the princi-
pie commodities during each of said periods of
six months preceding and succeeding any such
change in customs duties.
Third To ascertain as far as practicable the
quantity and value of the same or similar COM
modities produced in the United States during
the same respective periods.
Fourth. To ascertain in any and what instan-
ces the particular rates of customs duties have
operated to increase or diminish production in
the United States
Fifth. To ascertain in what particular rates
OF customs duties existing from time to time
operate injurious or favorable to the develop
ment and increase of American manufactures
and productions, or operate lnjurlously or
favorably to the consumers of such manu-
features and productions in respect of causing
or contributing to the payment of unreasonable
prices by consumers or the removal or reduc-
ton of the same.
Sirth. To ascertain the effects of the customs
duties upon the price of agricultural produc-
tions of the country and their sale in the United
States markets and their consumption in the
United States.
SeUenth. To ascertain the effects of such GUS
toms duties, both actual and relative, in respect
OF the employment and the payment of remun-
erative wages, both actual and relative. to labor
in the United States, and comparison of the
same with the labor and wages in other coun-
tries.
Eighth. To consider the effect of customs
duties or the absence of them upon the agri-
cultural, commercial. manufacturing, mining
and other industrial interests of the people of
the United States.
Ninth. To ascertain and compare the actual
cost and the selling price, both at wholesale
and retail, of similar manufactured commodi-
ties in the United States and elsewhere. In
order to perform its duties the commission is
empowered to visit different parts of the conn
try and make investigation and is instructed to
report the result of its labors to Congress.
Each year the testimony taken before it is to
be printed from time to time, the commits
sion shall determine.