New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-19
THE TARIFF COMMIssION PLAN.

The Tariff Commission League again ap-
peals to all commercial bodies to aid IN car
rying through Congress bill Ito take the
tariff question out Of the realm OF partisan
politics" This end 1t hopes to accomplish by
an act first declaring that duties shall be
levied, as the most satisfactory way of pro-
ydng revenue, on "all goods imported from
any foreign country" which come into COM
petition with similar goods manufactured or
produced in the United States" and that such
duties shall in all cases be I'm amount fully
"equal TO the difference in the cost of producing
"such goods IN the foreign country where the
cost is smallest and in the United States, but
that q higher duty may be levied where 1t
sis considered necessary TO do so In order to
"rase sufficient revenue TO meet the appropria-
"tions made by Congress- To ascertain what
the duty should be a commission Of seven
members is proposed which shall certify to the
President from time 10 time any change upon
which It may decide, and the President shall
tissue a proclamation carrying such change
Unto effect" The other branches Of Govern
ment have only TO certify TO the commission
the amount OF revenue raised by internal taxes
and other means and the amount that remains
to be raised by duties on imports, and at shall
''be the duty of the commission 10 arrange the
SCHEDULE so as to raise sufficient amount Of
''revenue to meet such expenses
II Is most fascinating idea TO many people
that all the expenses and losses Of Govern
ment by popular suffrage could be saved
through some device Of government by com
mission. They reason that a little select body
such as is proposed, holding office during good
behavior" and costing only S65,7o0 year for
salaries OF members, secretary and private
secretaries for each member, besides transpOr-
tation and other expenses, would do the work
of investigation and adjustment better than
Congress, and with less expense In year than
Is Involved by single day Of useless debate.
The precise reason why the other functions of
government NAV not also be thus economically
and better performed by commission Of men,
bers for life has not been stated. Neither Is IL
clear that the creation of such body would
take the tariff question out of politics. For
there will always be some who oppose and agi-
tate against duties for the purpose Of pro-
lection, and to these would be added under the
plan proposed great number who would be
dissatisfied with the precise adjustment made
by the commission, and would want higher
or lower duties on certain articles, and also all
those who believe that changes OF tariff az
often as commission alters its mind or gets
more information must be Injurious and that
, government by commission is not a good thing
because it fails to educate American citizens
TO a comprehension Of their responsibilities as
rulers. Instead Of two parties one for pro-
lection and one against, there would be COM
mission party on one side, and against II oil
who want different methods, higher duties,
lower duties or no duties.
As Congress can pass no law which cannot
be repealed or altered, the agitation for change
would 60 on every year, and not as now, only
when the party out Of power believes that 1t
has a chance to reverse the policy o. the Gov,
ernment Nor would the commission take the
question out Of politics. There would be ire
mendous agitation for the appointment Of a
particular commissioner whenever q vacancy
arose or became probable, and as the Presl-
dent would be in revenue matters merely a
recorder of the DEGREES Of the commission, his
election might come to depend largely upon
his engagement to appoint as commissioner one
person OF another. At every session Congress