Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-26
CHAMBER TARIFF PLAN
NEW YORKER FAvoRS REvI-
SION By A COMMISSION.

| ATLANTA, october 26.-Lieut. Gov.
ChanIer Of New York was the guest yester-
day Of the Georgia State Fair Association,
and spoke before a large crowd at the
fair grounds in the afternoon. He was in
troduced by United States Senator Clay
Lieut.. Gov. Chanier made q plea for the
divorce of the tariff issue from politics
and its handling by non partisan COM
mission. He also urged the punishment
i by personal Imprisonment of corporation
officials who violate the law. saying heavy
| fines were not a preventive.
| He said in part:
| Conceded that the evils threatening US
spring from special privilege-and pro-
| tective tariff is special privilege-let us
| seek the remedy In a common sense and
| Intelligent treatment of the tariff evil We
have lived and grown great under but
not because of, the protective system TO
| thoughtlessly destroy that system would
be to kill the patient before an attempt
at cure. To unintelligently tamper with
| the tariff to secure temporary relief Is
equally unwise and dangerous. The tariff,
as 1t now exists, is an evil, President
Mckinley, in his last public words, prae-
| ticafiy admitted 1T. But this method of
| raising money to carry on government has
| become so much a part of our national
economies that a tariff in some form.
| is today a national necessity. national
necessity should never be. foot ball to
| be played with by political parties!
| Take the tariff out of politics! Di-
vorce it from every suggestion of political
| manipulation. Make the raising of rev
| enue national. not partisan, response
| bility. The army and the navy are not
| fettered by politics; they are not made
use of for private gain The tariff should
stand upon the same high plane, not to be
made use of as a private privilege. but
| regulated and respected as national
necessity. reduced to the lowest terms
| o n
growth and national Importance.
Not Mere Campaign Issue.
1T Is idle to expect that the American
people can complete their education in
a study like the tariff during the hurried
rush OF a national campaign. Yet the
only opportunity for general unde stand
ing heretofore given has been upon short
notice and at time of 4everish excite
ment. After national elections are over
congressional committees of strictly po-
litical complexion have been appointed in
the past, to which the vital interests OF
the people in the tariff are intrusted. The
result always has been either partisan
Export with undigested radical changes or
a partisan report with real changes.
The uHdgested. radical report has created
disturbance without effecting cure and>l
has resulted in an increased tar!T rev
years later
Let US insist upon rigid and Intelligent
investigation. Let a commission be ap-
pointed of senators and representatives
of both parties. Add to that commission
the most learned opponents of political !
economy, chosen bv recognized institu-
lions of learning. Add to them men who
represent the importer and exporter. man
ufactursr and consume, chosen by the
chambers of commerce of our centers OF
civic strength, call in authorized repre-
sentatiyes OF organized labor and OF the
farmers oranges. and. afte- all Sides
have been heard. such tariff confer
ence will have enlightened the people Of
this country as to the best remedies.
Then Congress can act.
People Should Have Voice.
''The trouble heretofore has been that
the people have had no voice in the tariff
schedule after their votes had placed the
power OF discriminating and decision In
the hands of one party or the other. 1t is
a partisan committee that deals with
tariff reform, whichever party is In power. |
Before it, with prepared schedules, come
the personal represe natives of each pow
erful protected interest that has by money
contribution to campaign funds insured
victory to the party in power.
Let US then have commission not |
composed entirely of men who are depend
ent upon political contributions for con-
tin1ance in Office. Let the people them |
selves be upon the bench of the court that
is to pass judgment upon matters affect
ing their most vital interests. Out Of the
discussions and vast information resultant
from a national tariff conference COM
posed of men WHO represent every rec |
ognized branch of American trade. COM
merce. labor and development. will come
the light of truth.
For my part. l believe that as soon as
the American people have reasonable op-
portunity to learn where tariff truth is. |
they will enact it into law by the light of
their superior common sense"