Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-13
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 10, 1907
TARIFF COMMISSION MONT
RESULT IN GOOD.

The tariff debate betwocn Senator
William ]. Dcvcridgc and William j,
nrynn in the November number OF
The Reader contains suggestion by
Senator Bovcgidgc that wc have II
tarlT commission, the samc AZ was
advocated by tho Civic Federation
Convention IN Chicago several wcclSi
ago. Senator DoycrldEc says: "The
time has como for permanent tarn
Ncommisslon OF experts with the sole
duty of etudying our own and foreign
tariffs not In the interest Of any po-
lltical patty, but in the interest OF
all American producers Congress
shonll authorize such commission
Immediately and the President should
appoint II rs quickly MS he can find
tho men with skill, training md nbili
u for this difficult and complicated
work" lie points out the necessity
Of making tho commission as strictly
non partisan body as the naval board
or tho general staff Of the army. He
would have the commission gather
data 10 lay before Congress- and sit
with tho Ways and Means committee
nj oil sessions that deal with tariff
matters. lio thinks that tho new
tariff should DO on the maximum and
minimum principle.
The Reader cditorIally suggests
that tho standing which Senator Dcv.
crldgo enjoys with the President wa.
rants the belief that this plan outlines
the policy which viii be advanced at
tho next Republican national conven-
ton. Whether tho convention accepts
Il or not. there Ia abundant reason TO
helleye that IL represents Mr.. Roosc.
velts idea. The tariff commission
plan Is not by any means new one.
for during the Arthur administration
II was tried, but nothing came of It.
At that time and for many years af-
forwards tho tariff experts In
tho United States were mem
bern OF Congress- The long series OF
debates had developed class OF men
in both parties who were extraordi.
nar,ly familiar with every detail OF
the tarif problem, and 1t was quite
natural that these men should not
be greatly swayed by tho reports of
an outside commission. That old
school of tariff statesmen has almost
entirely disappeared from Congress.
ana 1t would seem as ii The time was
oppos,une TO try the commission
scheme again.
Ii the commission was made an alb.
soluteiy non partisan body. one of tho
best results would te that Il would
tend to break up tho idea that n tariff
once adopted. must be left absolute
" alone until it breaks down of it's
own weight. II would riddle this alb
surd and vicious stand pat" idea with
which many of the Republicans are
nov possessed. Tho country is today
facing another unscttling tariff agiia.
tion because OF the steadfast failure
OF the stand pat majority In Congress
TO touch the Dtngley law. which has
outllved its usefulness. except foi
some of the great trusts which It al
lows to grow richer and richer ever,
Year, because OF its protection. The
pinglcy Law from the very first wa,
admitted TO be faulty by even stancl
protectionists, aud that it contained
several features that should be chang
Z ed New business conditions hay,
arisen which cali for other changes
bat I. has been proclaimed By tn,
creatures OF the trusts in Congress
that ali the evils OF the Dingley Law