The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-28
WORK ON A TARIFF
How It Is Proposed to Have a Com
mission Take Up the
, Schedules.
a Sample Hearing 0utlined-An
Easy Way Out for the High
ly Protected Industries.

From The Journal Bureau, Eoers IS. Posi-
building, Warrington.
Washington. Nov. 27-"The tariff COM
mission plan opens for the protective in
terests the best possible way out of their
present dilemma remarked prominent
protectionist They will never get a
higher tariff than the present one: con-
gressional revision, by whatever hands.
would mean reduction. BY establishing a
permanent tariff commission, the protec-
tfonists would prepare the way for very
slow and gradual and judicious modifica-
ton Of the tariff. which would be vastly
more to their interest than any general
oNerhaulng. no matter how friendly the
auspices under which it was DONE
This remark affords key note to the
current advocacy OF a tariff commission
Its name is unfortunate, assocating the
present plan with an unsuccessful enter
prise of twenty years ago. with which 1t
really has little in common The scheme
now under consideration. as 1t exists i'll
the minds Of many Of its friends here,
contenplates a study Of tariff schedules
much as the anthracite coal commission
IS taking up the controversy between the
individual operators and their employees.
If Mr.. Macbeth. the Pittsburg glass manu-
facturer. for example, should come for
ward to say that his industry would be
greatly benefited by q lowering of duty on
lead and that he would welcome placing
his own finished product on the free list if
he could only have free raw materials, the
tariff commission would take up the con-
trovcrsy between him and those persons
who wanted the tariff on lead continued.
An issue would be joined. Other glass
manufacturers would be drawn into it,
Finally the commission would submit a
report of its findings TO congress. showing
where In it's opinion the duties on these
articles should stand consistent with the
most cDmnreDpnSlVp nrOtactiVp interests
This report would carry with it the force
which original inVeStiga ton and thorough
research always give. and congress. in vOt
ing any tariff rates higher lower than
the commission advised. would have to
assume the burden Of proof for its course
1t is desirable that all members Of the
commission should be of the same political
party, just as are the collectors Of GUS
toms. It's ends would be in d large meas
ure defeated were there ma jority and
minority report on everything, along party
lines; then arA' republican who saw fit to
favor the lower of the two tariff proposals
would be spoken Of ''deserting his par
ty,' and correspondingly any democrat
would be looked upon as a renegade who
took the high protection view. Such BIZ
Dartizan investigation would be Of greatly
lessened value. Politics should be for
gotten as nearly as possible. 1t may be
recalled that in forming tariff bills in con-
ways and means, and of the sena tie finance
committee. take part in the work. The
republicans get together and make out
their schedules; when they are all ready
TO report. the democrats being notified
come in and vote their dissent and submit
minority substitute. Were this COM
mission to be bipartisan. it's minority
members might just as we'll stay at home
there preparing a dissenting report. and
awaiting a change Of administration to
give them an inning.
The tariff is too intricate a question to
be made a football of general debate; it
belongs to experts. In the British parlia-
mentary system, the ministry bringing in
it's tariff changes. which are adopted py
parliamentary majorities. is much more
favorable to sound business. IT, with us.
a permanent tariff commission could come
to be looked on by congress as speaking
with corresponding weight. it might be
possible to relieve our business interest
OF those prolonged tariff debates in con-
gress which every few years operate so to
the disturbance of trade. Perhaps it is
too much to hope that congress could be
induced to look upon any other body than
itself as speaking with authority; but if
the prOtectiOnistS come to see in the pres
ent juncture that the tariff commission Is
for them way Of escape. rather than
something to be averted. the commission
idea may get a good start.
President Roosevelt would appoint, If
the occasion arose. men who took liberal
view Of the question. The Dalzell idea
that the Dingley tariff is sacred and
should not be changed, will not find repre-
sentation. Neither will the idea half
seriously voiced by Joseph H. Walker
who said when asked how he liked the
senate bill by comparison with that which
left the house: wherever it has made
the duties higher like it BETTER wherever
it has made them lower I do not like it
so WE'LL Mr.. Roosevelt does not as a
matter Of general theory, take this view
Of the tariff question. He recognizes
moreover, the great movement in the west
toward more liberal policies. and is in
sympathy with it, But he does not want
the tariff made the first question:; his
program is the trusts first. letting the
tariff come along later Senator Burrows
proposal to have 4, special session of the
tlfty-ninth congress. called in the spring
of 1905. is not bad one. BY two years.
a permanent tariff commission could have
a well digested set Of menda tiors
upon which congress- might act.
The reciprocity treaties aside from
those of Cuba and Newfoundland and pos
sibly Canada. will have no standing either
with congress or any tariff commission
that might be established. The maximum
and minimum schedule plan contains all
the advantages Of the Kasson treaties
and none Of their glaring defects. Reel
procity by the kasson program IS Impos-
sible.
w. w. Jermane.