The Washington herald., 1908-02-10
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1905.
Lac Newer view of the Tariff.

The Newer View of the Tariff.
Senator Beveridge. I'm his speech of
Wednesday last, strongly presented the
case for nonpargisan tariff commission
Of experts 60 inquire into all the facts
bearing on the tariff which would prove
helpful 10 Congress In providing equitable
rates of duty upon the thousands of ar
ticles that annually pass through our
cust0m-houses. Mr.. Beyeridge particu-
larly stressed the usefulness of such a
commission in arranging a scientific
classification of articles subject TO duty,
a task for which the committees of
Congress are united by lack Of time and
want of expert familiarity with "a com
plicated natter The classification of the
existing law Is antiquated, out of date,
and so insufficient that it must be con-
stantly supplemented by decisions of ap-
praisers and the courts, at great expense
20 litigants, The appraisers and the
courts, by fixing classihcations. are legis-
lating every day, 10 quote Senator Bev-
oridge Just as much as Congress Iegis-
lAAtT Nlltll il IAAr AllI huAlte- HI uAllCL
words many duties on imports are de-
tcmiEed by the classification. which. in
turn is matter of administrative or
judicial Interpretation. The confusion
ana uncertainty thus introduced into the
tariff schedules is serious drawback 60
our foreign trade As it would be mani-
festly impossible FOR any committee of
Congress 10 master so technical and intri-
cate a subject within the limits of a sin
gle session it is one which may well be
committed TO experts for study and re-
port.
The tarin-commissi0n method of dealing
with the tariff, though highly successful
In Germany. and widely advocated in this
country by commercial and mauufac-
tursrs' organizations, has So far found
little support in the press or among men
iu public life. The standpatters oppose
it because it opens ttp the tariff question.
and probably also because they prefer the
present system of extending special
favOTs TO particular Industries TO scien-
tidc aud equitable adjustment of tariff
duties, Many tariff reyisionists see II
the commission idea only another schem,
for the p0stponement of revision 10 som,
indefinite period in the future. Will,
other critics predict that a commission
would merely befuddle the subject by
bringing in majority and minority reports
that nobody would pay any attention TO
We do not believe Senator Beveridge ad
vocates a tariff commission for any sucI
purpose as postponing tariff revision. ant
he was carefHl to point out that "a com
mission would have nothing 20 do with
the theory upon which revision should be
undertaken, its duty being simply to as
certain facts, Whether revision should
increase or diminish the average rate OF
duties. whether it should preserve tht
protective system. or should introduce q
revenue system with incidental protec
ton, or whether it should be a hodge
podge # both theories or a compromise
between conflicting interests and opin
ions, would be solely for Congress to de
te-mine. We think Mr.. Beveridge clearly
showed that a tariff commission woulC
have plenty 10 do without poaching OF
the prerogatives of Congress.
Senator Beveridge stands for the new
point of view from which the tariff {.
coming 20 be regarded by business meI
and manufacturers, as well as by an in
creasing number Of voters Of both par
ties. The old stump speeches about
protective tariff and "a tariff for reycnu,
only, as hc says. will be out Of date il
the coming campaign. Hde-b0und pro
tecdonists who decry foreign trade as al
injury To domestic industry and Teformer
who would repeal all protective duties
are alike hopeIessly behind the times
Protection in some degree or other. Il
the settled policy of the country. but il ]!
being more and more recognized that
protective policy that squeezes the Hf
out of foreign trade that paralyzes tn
energies of our manufacturers and ham
pers the expansion Of our Industries b.
limiting their markets abroad. in fits .
nation that boasts itself a world power
A broader view must be taken Of ou
tariff policy, and as a manufacturer sal,
in an address at Cincinnati the othe
day. the change must come through
sane and just consideration of all tn
commercial, political and moral question:
Involved This broader view has beel
given practical eXemplifcati0n in tn
German agreement and it is finding ex
preston in the resolutions of Commercial
bodies and manufacturers associations al
over the land. The time is rapidly pass
ing when a few powerful interests cal
dictate the schedules of tariff bill. Whel
the tariff is next revised, as we hope i
will be at the next session OF Congress
the revision should take into account tn
whole commercial and industrial interes
of the nation and its relation to tn
worlds markets. Such revision shoul
be equitable rather than radical. havinI
for its purpose the greatest good to tn
greatest number rather than special ia
vors 10 the few or vindictive onslaugh
on specific industries.
The Kansas City Journal thinks