The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-21
MR.. CHARACTERISTICS LATEST

hOtE.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain is demonstrating
anew his claim to the title of the Yankee of
British politics. as he was dubbed long ago.
In originality. fertility of resource. DISPOSE
ton to take the initiative and in the
'hustiing'' quality. he is more like
American than a Briton. AT the beginning
Of his public career, as mayor of Birming-
ham, he gave that city such turning over
in the way of practical and progressive re-
forms as Ii had never had before, and there
has been something doing with him ever
since.
Mr. Chamberlain's latest move, and one
that is causing considerable discussion in
England. is the raising of commission to
inquire into the condition of British trade,
investigate the tariff question from all
points of view, compile the opinions of bust
ness men and report a tariff reform meas
ure. The names of about twenty-five per-
sons are published who have consented to
serve the commission. The list includes
ex-members of Parliament, retired mer-
chants. prominent manufacturers and bust
ness men, presidents of boards of trade and
chambers of commerce, experts on economic
list but possesses some kind of special quail
ification for the position. 1t is not known
yet how many members of the commission
there will ultimately be, but as far as it is
made up it is composed of men of the high
est standing, representing a wide range of
;ntaras+c Tho announcement of ifc MAN.
bers created at once the impression of a
business body rather than an aggregation
of politicians. 1t is not a packed commits
sion. 1t is made up of men of open minds
who will study the tariff question diligently
from all points of view and make an honest
report of their conclusions.
The movement is original and bold, and.
therefore, characteristic of Mr.. Chamber
lain. The British people are accustomed to
royal commissions. or, as we would say.
congressional committees, appointed to in
vestigate and report upon public questions.
and they generally make thorough work of
it, too, but here is a public man, not in
Office, who goes to work and appoints
committee which is stronger in it's personnel
and more representative in character than
any royal commission ever created. Some
British papers are criticising Mr.. Chamber
lain for thus. as they allege usurping the
power of Parliament in appointing a COM
mission to investigate social and economic
conditions. The criticism is not well found
ed. Mr.. Chamberlain's action is without
precedent, but it is entirely legitimate. The
British government is almost as much a
government Of the people and by the people
as our government is and there is no i'm
propriety in starting what we would call
peoples movement to investigate great
public question. Few British statesmen
would have ventured on so bold departure
from established usage, but Mr.. Chamber
lain is one of the few.
The movement shows lis shrewdness and
his confidence in the cause he is advocating.
A short-sighted politician would have tried
to pack the commission with persons whom
he knew to be of his way of thinking. so as
TO secure a favorable report. Mr.. Chamber
lain was too wise to do this. Such trick
would have been quickly discovered and the
commission would have lost caste. By ap-
pointing persons of high standing without
knowing their views, Mr.. Chamberlain
shows his own faith in the result of their
inquiry and secures public confidence from
the start. No doubt he expects report in
substantial accord with his own views in re-
gard to tariff reform, but he expects 1t only
result of careful and impartial investi-
CATION of the subject, and if it comes in that
opinion.
Meanwhile American lawmakers and man
ufacturers had better begin to consider how
they will meet the changed conditions If
Mr.. Chamberlan's tariff reform movement
wins, as now seems quite probable.