New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-04
BUSINESS MEN AT WORK.
PRESENTING THEIR VIEWS ON LEGIsLA-
TON TO CONGRESS.
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE TO COOPERATE WITH
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE IN PRE-
PAIRING TARIFF BILL-A TARIFF
COMMISSION AND 4 DEPARTMENT

THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE IN Pre-
PAIRING TARIFF BILL-A TARIFF
COMMISSION AND A DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE FAVORED.
Washington, Feb. 3-Thc recently organized Ma
tional Business League. which opened Its headquar-
ters in the Stock Exchange Building. in Chicago on
January g. was represented in this city to-day by
Ferdinand ". Peck. its president, and John W. Ela'
its general attorney whose presence here Is Tor the
purpose OF starting the work OF the League toward
investigating and properly influencing Federal leg
islation bearing On trade interests. Messrs. Peck
and Lila at the Caritol to-day. They first took
up the matter Of the tariff bill now being prepared
by the House Ways and Means Committee ana
had extended interviews with several members oil
the committee, including Chairman Dingley. MT
Hopkins and General Grosvenor. with reference TO
the work now being done by the committee. and in
this nncr informed themselves CT the present
stage OF the schedules and bills.
Messrs Peck and Ella were cordially received By
members Of the committee, who assured them OF
their disposition to welcome their cooperation, anu
an arrangement was made with the committee py
which the league will furnish statements OF facts
and statistics from time &c time. with Its views on
questions arising in the making up OF the schedules
Several points on which considerable work Is TO be
done and problems to be solved in the maHihg Oh
the tariff schedules suggested to these repre-
sentatlves of the league by the members OF the
committee on which it would be well for the League
TO prepare and furnish statements
Mr.. Peck and Mr.. Ella also had an interview with
an Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury, and made
l. arrangements with him to obtain statistics and
statements from the Bureau Of Statistics bearing
on such points they should desire at any time.
They were assured at the Treasury Department
that the officials were willing TO further the WORK
They also discussed with several officials the ad-
visibility of having bill for the appointment OF a
Tariff Commission passed at the same time WIN
the Tariff bill. providing that expert commission
be appointed 10 whom all bills contemplating
changes in the schedules hereafter should Ice re-
ferred nvcstgatl ton and report to Congress Do
fore action Is taken. The object OF this Is 10 pre-
vent after the passage Of the Tarin bill. the Dam,
/ age 10 business which always follows from general
revision entire tariff 1t is understood that
these men will recommend to the League that It's
Influence be brought to bear in this manner. .
They also discussed with Senator Frye ana otner
members of Congress and officials OF the treasury
Department the bill 70 establish a Department OF
Commerce and Industry and the appoiniment OF a
new Cabinet officer. This measure VIII also DC
recommended to the Executive Committee oil me
League for favorable action. The League WIN pe
asked TO take action in favor OF pasging the plil
creating this Department at the special session; so
that the Cabinet officer may be appointed IN
the next few months. Messrs. Peck ana Fla werc:
assured by several members OF congress tntt
passage Of the Tariff bill that session., as they
would occupy little time in their passage Members
generally expressed themselves in favor OF these
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