Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-06-15
Multiplicity Of Commissions.

Multiplicity Of Commissions.
The tendency of the times and the
distrust of the people to control the
policies which shall prevail, has led
to the creation of commissions, osten-
sibly in the interest of the public, but
really to promote interests which an
tagonize the welfare of the common
people. A few years ago we had a
tariff commission which went junkt-
ing over the country at heavy ex-
pense to the taxpayers in transporta-
ton and salaries, consuming many
months in taking testimony IN regard
to the condition of industries gener-
ally and the causes of their depres-
sion, and when the voluminous re-
port was acted upon by congressin
framing tariff measure, no more at
tention was pain to the work of the
commission than though it had not
been made. And now congressman
Fowler of New Jersey introduces a
bill for tariff commission to contin-
ue for 81 years, consisting of seven
members to be appointed by the
president at annual salaries, ranging
from $500 to $500, each commis-
sioner to thave a clerk at $1,000 an
nual salary, to which is to be added
the cost of junketting not only over
this but other countries inquest of
information upon the question of tar
if taxation. So long as the annual
cost of administering the affairs of
the government is in excess of $780,
100000 derived principally through
tariff taxes, tariff that has seemed
excessive must be levied upon the im-
ports of the country. Hence the
question is as to whose industries are
to bear the burden, and upon what
class of consumers it shall rest the
heaviest, mere question of arrang-
ing schedules for revenue, and for
the protection of certain classes by
imposing it's burden upon the shoul-
ders of others. This is what tariff
squable signifies and is the principle
involved in arranging its schedules,
and hence no tariff commission Us
provided by the Fowler bill should be
countenanced for a moment.
Another scheme of those who fear
public intelligence upon money mat
tiers is for a monetary commission
the business of which will be to get
rid OF the Treasury notes of the green
backs and the silver certificates by
funding them into long time bonds
upon which the industries of the
country must pay the interest pro-
vided by the terms of the bonds.
These bonds are to form the basis for
bank issues, the entire control of the
money supply being given to the
banks. thus enabling them to fix the
price upon every article of produce
by enabling them to make money
scarce or plentiful, dear or cheap at
pleasure. This is the purpose of that
contemplated commission having the
approval of the Secretary of the
Treasury, and of National bankers,
almost without exception.
The people now have an expensive
luxury known as the Interstate rail-
way commission which has been de-
prived of all the power for good it
possessed by various rulings of the
courts. Railroad pooling declared by
the courts illegal, are to be legalized
by act of congress, discrimination
that ruins individuals or commune.
ties, the Interstate commission may
after the injury has been inflicted
make public, but their power is limit
ed to notifying railroads to do
no more" The way to make such
notice effective is to compel the cor
poration which has inflicted the
wrong to make full reparation in dol
lars and cents. Depriving it of this
power robs it of Its Efficacy for pub
lie good and as a potent reason why
the commission should be retired to
private life.