The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-29

NEW AOith, August 2S.--Ihe Ma
tional Association OF Manufacturers, al
organization Of some $1,000 prominen,
manufacturers with n combined capitali
zation exceeding sl5,ooo0o00O0 pub
fishes in the current issue of its official
organ. American Industries, tariff
"creed' emphasizing the resolution In
favor OF immediate tariff revision unan-
imously passed at recent convention
The association holds that present
tariff schedules are unequal and demands
the immediate appointment by Congress
and the executive Of non partisan. non.
political commission composed Of men
thoroughly competent to equalixe pres.
cnt schedules This demand BY the very
class Of interests served BY the tariff
Is extremely significant, and the agita-
tion undoubtedly will lead to tariff
debate, The "creed" outlined by the
manufacturers association 10 as fol-
lows:
I'VE believe in the policy OF a protec.
tive tariff, liberal in scope and afford,
ing to every American industry In need
of protection from foreign competition
the benefit Of schedules ample to ne.
eomplish this purpose. including a suf-
fcient margin Of safety to insure the
steady and profitable operation OF in
dustrial plants and the payment OF a
wage scale compatible with the present
standard Of living in our country.
we believe that our present tariff,
in many Of its schedules, Is unjust and
unequal, giving to some smaller meas.
ure to protection than Is needed, and
to Others greater industrial advantages
that are equitable, resulting in abuses
and in social unrest disturbing to
the body politics.
1--WE believe that any further reyis.
ion of the tariff under the old methods
is wholly to be discouraged and avoided,
since II is by these methods that the
present injustices have arisen. popular
animosity engendered toward a class be.
cause OF undue advantages OF a few,
and because such so-called revision OF
the tariff has invariably resulted in
rigidity OF the set schedules and con-
sequent encouragement Of foreign
trade.
I'VE believe that the tariff should be
taken out of politics once for all. treat.
ed az business proposition, made just
to all parties thereto--the people of
the United States as whole-placed
upon a sane and scientific basis, in
hands competent TO treat Ii intelli.
gently, without favoIitism and thor.
oughly to accomplish the purpose of
protection without injustice
"We believe that the time to take the
tariff out Of politics Is now and not after
the unsettling effect Of another national
now when the country il
and when ii has n chief exc
cutive in whose integrity it has conf
dence; now when the evils are abvious
and are known TO all.
"We believe in placing the tariff un.
der q non partisan tariff commission not
unlike the present Interstate Commerce
Commission with semi judicial powers,
as for example to summon witnesses,
this commission to investigate thor
oughly and scientifically the various
schedules and from time to time submit
their conclusions in the form of recon-
to Congress and the execu-
tive. 1t should lie within the power Of
this commission and the executive to
increase or decrease the present sched.
ules within such minimum or maximum
limits as Congress in its wisdom may
determine to the end that an equitable
be made. Not as the re.
suit of few months work Of d Con-
gressional committee, but of the care
full and systematic work of perma.
rent and practical commercial body.
eve believe that Congress at its next
session should pass a bill duly creating
the tariff commission just described, and
that it remains for us, the manufac-
turers and representatives of the in.
lustries of the United States, for whom
and in whose interests the present tariff
schedules were presumably created, to
express our strong desire for tariff
commission as above outlined, and to
demand that Congress create such
commission at its next session.