Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-05-14
Another Proposal for "A Tariff Commits

sion.
Representative Fowler of the eighth New
Jersey district has introduced bill in the
House of Representatives for the creation
of a tariff commission to investigate Fed
eral taxation; TO recommend changes and
to adjust inequalities of existing law. The
bill provides for a commission of seven
members at a salary of $1,000 per annum,
with terms of Office running from u years
for the chairman down to three years.
The commission shall, under the terms of
the BILL make annual reports to the Presi-
dent, and it is given power, with the writ
ten approval of the President, and certain
other specified conditions, to suspend any
tax on imports, or any internal revenue
tax, in whole or in part.
Mr.. Fowler, who is a Republican, said in
explanation of his motive in introducin 9
this bill:
THE American people-Republican
Democrats, farmers, mechanics, manufac-
turers, laborers and merchants, indeed,
all-are heartily sick and tired of this dis
tressing unrest growing out of tariff legis-
lation, and | believe are more anxiously
waiting for some method of permanently
disposing of the tariff agitation than they
are of settling some particular tariff sched-
ules. The imposition of any kind of taxes
is not an exact science, as is evidenced by
the wide divergence between the House
and Senate bills, though reported by Re-
publicans from the respective branches Of
Congress, and therefore the matter cannot
be definitely disposed of by a political revo-
luton. 1t is largely may say entirely
matter of opinion, based on current eX-
perience, and if any method can be devised
which will result in an evolution in Federal
taxation and save this country from busi-
ness commissions and commercial revul-
sions, it will be hailed with delight in all
parts of the country and by all classes of
our people.
There is probably no serious expectation
of the enactment of the bill into law at
present, but its introduction and con sidera-
tion will serve to develop and concentrate
public sentiment on a very important
question.
The secretary of the tariff commission
league of Newark, y. j., recently asked
Senator Cullom of Illinois for his views on
permanent tariff commission and received
this answer
81 have for many years thought that
there ought to be some means devised by
which we could avoid these constant and
extreme changes in tariff legislatiOn-frst t
going far in the direction of a high tariff
and, on the occasion of change of politics
going as far the other way.
hot ho ,,,l;
agency of permanent tariff commission
composed of experts, statisticians and busi-
ness men, such changes could be made from
year to year by Congress as might be indi-
Gated and clearly shown to be wise. This
would save the necessity of requiring a
change of the whole tariff system by what
ever party came into power.
Certainly We can not continue indet-
nitely as we have been doing with refer
ence to that subject, because the business
of the country will not tolerate it, l hope
sincerely that this Congress may provide
| for some kind of a commission which will
| aid in changing the situation, and l should
! be glad if an amendment of the nature in
dicated were to be incorporated in the bill
now before the Senate, known as the Ding
ley bill. S. NJ. CULLOM."
| VI NOui oO WIS 10 hOlCl1 al OAPi OSSlOh vi
individual opinion, but coming from mar
of the long experience in public affairs, O.
the conservative views, and the unques
toned Republicanism of Senator Cullom
it is significant. 1t shows the tendency O.
men of this stamp to view the tariff as {
business question, to be adjusted OF
business principles, and not as a matter o
| party or partisan policy.