The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-23
TAKE THE TARIFF OUT OF POLITICS.
Busfscss MEMS League would Refer N - .
Department or Commerce and Industry.

1nshne98 mene League WouIo krnSr ~ - -
Department or Commerce and Industry.
WARRINGTON, Feb. 22.-The National Bust
meas Mems League, composed Of non.partisan
business mon throughout the United States,
have submitted to the Ways and Means Com
mittee, through John W. Ella Of Chicago. gen.
eral counsel, a statement embodying tho views
Of the league with regard to tho kind Of q tariff
law that should DO enacted. Auxiliary councils
Of the league are being formed rapidly In
the various States, and tho membership
already includes moro than q thousand
prominent and successful business men.
The memorial presented to-day is signed
by Ferdinand W. Peck, President; Moses
p. Handy. Chairman; @. A. Gilbert, Secretary.
and Eldridgo @. Keith, Treasurer. After e1-
pressing regret that the organization Of tho
league was not completed in time for It to be
represented at the public hearings Of the COM
mittee, and thanking the committee for their
willingness to receive and consider such views
as they might submit, which views. they say,
are ooncurred in by a largo majority OF the bust
ness men Of the country, they that
the present revision OF the tariff shall DO q con-
servauve one, and then say:
while we understand that IL IN your inten-
ton by this revision to obtain moro revenue and
to protect American labor. We ask that its bcne-
fits and Its burdens be spread as equally as pos
sible, and so as to foster general rather than spe-
ctal interests. We believe that the country has
now had sufficient experience with tariffs to fur.
nish q basis upon which. revisions may be made
more scientifically than heretofore, and that the
objects desired, whether revenue or protection,
may be- secured at the same time general bust
ness prosperity may be forwarded. We I'M
derstand that your IN Ia endeavor-
ing to work along these lines, and We tender
you any assistance In that direction which you
may desire Of us. We will furnish you some sta
tistics from time to time, and as soon az we arc
able to get them into proper form. We also take
this opportunity TO say that tho league, being In
favor OF taking the tarin out OF politics, favor
tho establishment OF a new department Of the
Government, TO be designed the Department Of
and Industry 1.-THE scope Of which we
will not discuss here). and Of a tariff bureau
in that department which, after tho present
revision, shall investigate and report on all
complicated changes in the tariff before action
by Congress-; and We believe that this
bureau should he composed Of non-partisan ex-
perts OF such character and reputation that their
report on each schedule or subject investigated
by them will be conclusive as to the facts and in
~fiuential In the decision. In such cases there
would be few occasions for general revisions Of
the tariff. which accompany periodical upsetting
Of the business OF the country for months before
and afterward. and the tariff would gradually
become a matter OF economic science. 1t Is tho
intention OF the league to use its influence In
forwarding legislation in this direction"