The Washington herald., 1908-01-07
A REVISION
Senator BeVeridge Has Bill
Providing Investigation.
CREATES A NEW COMMISSION
Secretary of Commerce and Labor
to Head Body Which Is 10 Inquire
and Report It's Findings To Con-
greSs for Its Guidance,

Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, will to-
day introduce i'm the Senate a bill which
may prove to be the first step toward a
partial revision of the tariff after the next
Presidential election. should the Repub-
lican party be returned to power.
The purpose of the bill will be 70 create
a commission, TO be appointed by the
President, the object of which Will be
stated in the bin substantially as fol-
lows.
1T shall be the duty of said commission
to proceed Immediately TO investigating
the cost of production of all articles COW
cred by our tariff. the prices paid Ameri-
can labor in comparison with prices paid
foreign labor the cost of raw material
entering into our manufactured articles.
whether domestic or imported, and all
other facts necessary to the fixing of du-
ties on any article
Cabinet Officer Chairman.
The commission viii consist Of i've
members. and be attached to the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor, the
Secretary of that department being made
ex officio chairman of the commission The
members are to be appointed for terms
of FIVE years each, vacancies which may
occur from time to time being filled only
for the nexpired term, and the compen-
satlon of each member is TO be 5000
year The Presidents appointments to
the commission are to be subject to the
approval of the Senate, and are TO be
made from civil life, no Senator or Rep
resentative in Congress to be "A member.
Each member Is to be an expert upon the
tariff question or some branch thereof;
and it is recommended that a lawyer, a
farmer. and one man who Is familiar with
the tariff systems Of foreign countries
shall be among the members.
The commission is to be empowered to
hold sittings In all parts of the country,
and 10 require the attendance of wit
nesses, administer oaths and call for the
production OF books and papers which ii
may find necessary to its labors. II OD-
position is made to its orders it is en-
powered TO call upon any United States
court 70 enforce them, refusal thereafter
to be punished as contempt Of court
Persons who shall be found guilty of
pei july lli tsHt4As Ills AtltLt tliI Ntiiiiilltl
sion are 10 be fined from 81, coo 70 $1,000.
For Guidance of Congress.
The commission is not to report bill
or a draft of a bill for the revision of the
tariff II is 10 tabulate the results Of its
Investigations respecting cost of produc-
tion. labor, and all other things affecting
the tariff. and also make report
in explanation Of such facts so as
certained, and the report is 10 be laid be-
fore Congress by the Secretary of Com
merce and Labor at the earliest possible
moment for the use and guidance Of
Congress In its revision OF the tariff, and
said commission and each member
thereof. at the request Of the Committee
on Ways and Means of the House or the
Finance Committee OF the Senate. shall
sit with said committees during the ses-
sions OF said committees when said com
mittees are drafting or considering any
bill for revision OF the tariff