The Washington critic., 1890-03-31
WASHINGTON, MARCH 81, 1890.
A NEW COMMISSION.

The provisions OF the Mckinney
Tariff bill, which have today been con.
sidered by the full Committee on Ways
and Means, and which have become
tolerably well known to the country,
have aroused a considerable variety of
hostile criticism from members Of both
political parties, and from representa-
tives of several sectional interests. This
fact may show the difficulty Of SO re-
visipg the revenue system, from time
to time, as that it may in the main be
equitably adjusted to the changing
conditions of national industry.
In the last number Of the Statesman
an intelligent and earnest article by
Walter Thomas Mills directs attention
TO this difficulty, and suggests possible
remedy. His suggestion is Il permanent
Tariff Commission, similar to the Inter
state Commerce. Commission, with
power at all times to obtain informa-
ton and to receive appeals from ne
elected, endangered or conflicting in
terests. II would be the province of
this commission to make such reports
to Congress, from year to year, as to
the changes in the tariff schedule
which 1t deemed advisable.
of course, ii is the duty of Congress
10 provide for the expenses of the Gov.
ernment, and it does this mainly
through the tax imposed on the impor-
tati Il of goods of foreign manufacture.
This is effected through the adjustments
of the tariff schedule TO the conditions
of the trade of the country. But
these conditions are continually chang
ing, and the tariff adjustments should,
as nearly as may be practicable, con
form to this variation:
In this connection ii matters little
what party is in power, Or what theory
of tariff legislation is held; the duty is
the same. Whether it be held that i'm
port duties should be levied in sulfi-
cient quantity TO meet the expenses Of
the Government with the least possible
Interference with the freedom of eX-
change" or should be raised so as to
foster American manufacturing enter
prises, the relations Of the tariff to the
Industry and commerce of the country
must be considered and justly arranged
1t is an obvious fact that great share
Of the time of each Congress is occu-
pied by schemes of tariff revision. Mr.
Mills holds that the methods now in
use by which CONGRESS informs itself
as to the needed changes are cumbrous
and imperfect. He therefore proposes
the appointment Of commission for a
term of years, on which both parties
should be represented, which should
have the power to shape tariff legisla
ton. He urges that the members ol
such commission would be specialists
that their decisions would be the result
of careful and authoritative investiga.
ton, and that all interests would be
more justly served by them than at
present.
Mr.. Mills states his preference foi
such q commission as he suggests, foi
the following reasons:
~ While Congress can never know oil
eff the facts on which just schedule mus
be based, commission could secure tn
largest possible information. t2l Will
Congress cannot avoid special interests an,
cannot fail to he largely influenced b.
them, a permanent commission would b.
largely OF the nature of court and coult
be more easily protected against such in
rasions, (3l While Congress cannot pro
vide for constant adjustment of tn
schedule to the changing conditions of tn
market, a commission would be able TO d
so. a. While large changes in the schedul
occasionally bring disaster to business sn'
the fear of them aconstaut embarrassment
such commission, on the terms proposed
would effectively guard against both; Will
tarifi legislation absorbs the attention 0
Congress and monopolizes the activities Q
politics, thus thrusting aside other publ
interests, such a commission would leay
the field more open for other questions, Oh
consideration of some of which is Of th
most vital Importance.