The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-08
GREAT MOVEMENT
TO REVISE TARIFF
Organization Re present
ing $4,000, 900, 900
Urges Action.
FOR IMMEDIATE
REVISION ALSO
Business Interests of Country
Call on Congress to Create
Permanent Comissfon to
Rearrange Sched-
ules as Needs
Require 1t.
Business Interests of Country
Call on Congress- 10 create

WASHINGTON d. c.. September 7.-
A new and aggressive Influence in both
legislative and administrative affairs
is expected to make itself manifest at
the national capital during the next
session OF Congress. and probably for
a long time afterward. This new force
is embodied in the organization known
as the National Association OF Manu-
facturers, which held its convention
In Washington last spring. when 1t was
addressed by Secretary Root and sew
eral members of Congress upon the i'm
portance of enlarging our export trade.
Heretofore this important Organization
has conducted its affairs in Washing
ton without publicity. But now 1T
seeks publicity and the widest advo-
cacy of Its views principally as to two
subjects-the revision of the tariff and
the relations between capital and
labor.
The National Association of Manu-
facturers Is said to be composed OF
about 1900 manufacturers, represent
ing somewhat more than that num-
ber OF industries. This membership
Is claimed to represent capitalize
tion OF about $4,000. 100000. and at
least 75 per cent. OF the manufac
turing industries OF the country. The
membership is Distributed through.
out the United States, but is especially
strong in the Central West. and 1t
Is said that the attitude of this organi-
zation will be of especial interest to
Speaker Cannon and the other stand
patters." who have opposed the plan
of revision of the tariff which is ad-
vocated by the association.
Take 1t Out of Politics.
This association declared last spring
with practical unaninfty that the
present tariff ought to be revised, and
that the process of revision should
be taken out of politics. 1t had been
believed by many that It was the
manufacturers of the country them
selves who wished to retain the exist
Ing customs schedule intact
1t was sensation that stirred up
the high protective organs of the Re-
publican party throughout the United
States when an organization of manu-
,facturers asked for immediate revision
OF the tariff. The resolutions adopted
did not ask for revision at some in
definite time In the future, as suggest
ed by Secretary Taft, but asked for 1t
now-that is to say, at the opening OF
the next Congress. Those resolutions
also declared in favor of the creation
of national tariff commission, of a
semi-pudicial nature, somewhat like
the Interstate Commerce Commission
whose function it would be to give
continual hearings upon the customs
duties and to report periodically both
to Congress and the executive. 1t was
also proposed that there should be
granted in the next revenue act by
Congress a limited discretion to the
executive in the way of proclaiming
through treaties reductions or increases
Of duties upon imports. SO as to facili-
tate reciprocity arrangements.
To Be Carried on Actively.
The propaganda for revision and
for tariff commission is to be car
ried on actively through the press
and other recognized methc>s OF pub
licity during the coming session of
Congress and thereafter. This asso-
ciation's efforts will be in opposition
to the campaign of the American Pro-
tective Tariff League, which is also
composed Of manufacturers, but which
represents the extreme high protec-
tive tariff idea.