Bisbee daily review., 1902-12-07
THE TARIFF COMMISSION

The Review is in receipt of a copy of a bill now before the House of Rep resentatives entitled "A bill to es- tablish a commission, who shall inves- tigate all duties on imports and rec ommend changes therein, negotiate reciprocal trade treaties and recon mend the adoption of the same, and collect such information with regard to products, manufactures and com merce as will aid it in the perform ance of its duties and promote and provide for the general welfare"
 The bill is being sent broadcast throughout the United States and one has found its way into each newspa- per office. The author of the bill is Charles N. Fowler of New Jersey, which state has become the hot bed of the gigantic trusts. The bill first provides for the appointment of com mission of five by the President, each commissioner to receive a salary of sT,5O0 per annum. The duty of the commission shall be to investigate all questions of federal taxation affecting imports and foreign trade, and an- nually make a report to the President of the United States, on or before the first day of November, with such rec concentrations for changes in import duties as it may deem proper and wise.
 Further, that when said commis- sion. by the affirmative vote of four of it's members, shall recommend to the President of the United States that any part or the whole of any of tax upon imports which may have been imposed by the congress of the Unit ed States be suspended, then the Pres ident of the United States shall, have power, if he approve of such recon mendations. to suspend ty his .Iroela- nation such part or whois of any tax on imports so recommended for such time and to such an extent as 10 him may seem proper and wise: provided, however, that such suspension shall not take effect within one year after the date of such proclamation.
 And, again, that when said conimis- sion shall report to the Presiden. of the United States rec:2rooaI com mercial agreement with any foreign country or colony, recommending by the affirmative vote of fou- of it's members that the same is favorable to the products, manufactures and commerce of the United States, then the President of the Uns.ed States, if he approve the same, shall transmit said agreement to the senate Of the United States with the recon nenda- tion that it be ratified as a commer- cial treaty with said foreign country or colony.
 The commission, is authorized toI visit the different sections of the United States with view Of studying local conditions. and is empowered to summon witnesses and compel the ex-
 
 hibition of books and accounts when they so elect
 Owing to the fact that the author of the bill halls from New Jersey, the home of the trusts, it will be sub jected to close scrutiny. In the main the creation of such tariff commis- sion would result in much good. but the powers conferred upon this com mission are very great. In fact it takes the tariff legislation out of the hands of congress, the representative body of the people and places it abso luteiy in the hands of an appointed commission, who are to change tariff laws and make reciprocity treaties. It would be preposterous to think that congress would ever delegate such a power toiany appointed body of men.
 It would be well to have such a com. mission to make a study of the trade conditions of this country, gather sta. tistics, etc, and present them to con. gress, with their recommendation Their power should cease at this point. The American people are not willing just yet to surrender the law making power into the hands of six men. s