New-York tribune., 1908-05-20
WARM TARIFF DEBATE
EXPERT BOARD FAVORED.
Manufacturers Report Congress Not
Fit to Handle Question.


Manufacturers yesterday. 1t followed the report of
the committee on tariff and reciprocity, which
said that Congress not fit TO handle the ques-
ZION end favored commission or board of experts
put the tariff in shape. Objection was made to
the attack Congress and TO the expert clause
Howard Gillespie. of Pittsburg. and Colonel E. II.
Dean. Of Indianapolis. asserting that the report
ehoUld not go out presented They said that II
there a let-up In she tariff crusade the
essocistion might be disrupted. 1t pointed out
that the tariff for the politicians to manage.
and that all the resolutions Of bodies OF citizens
could not take politics.
1t was decided. however. that the report should
60 that the resolutions at the end Of it should
be adopted without amendment. and the tariff
hattie ended with all the 4so members of the
association present in good humor
That the association is determined carry its
nefu against the labor unions far possible
was shown in the adoption Of resolution author
azng Mr.. Van Clesve. the president Of the associa-
ton to select many members as he wanted TO
serve with him a committee 10 appear before
the national executive committees Of the two great
political parties and urge that class declaration
planks omitted from their platforms The presi-
dent was instructed also invite the cooperation
Of committees from other associations
In the same spirit OF antagonism TO the labor
unions a message sent 10 Mr. Cannon urging
him 10 use his power against any anti-injuncton
legislation Resolutions sent TO Representa-
rive Liltleheld praisng him for his anti-injuncton
opposition and commanding others who had op-
posed the measures
TARIFF FIGHT OPENED.
The tariff fight came in the afternoon after the
report had been considered in executive session and
,he resolutions approved. The resolutions were as
follows:
roainSainfng the principle Of protection An1er-
can interests OF fern 5a050Ig ana 10 onrres the
creation of permanent sem-judicial tariff com
eafe fborousliy and scientifically all per-
tanning the subject TO the end that congress
ehsn assist the state Department, when desired
in the formulation and negotiation OF treaues OF
Resolved 49, We recommend basis Of
shall work. the principle Of international costs 10
Wit Pro5eeye dnIes saon5a PefSeen the cost
Of production in foreign countries and that IN 'ae
United States
The report said that never again would tariff
be made in the uncertain and slipshod methods
Of the past Attention called TO the resolI-
tion passed by the United States Senate providing
for the employment OF experts and the report SAID:
Your committee sogg & for long months 5ona 5 to 05 g5e
gress. backed by iDlrneasurable power a few men
ctins how tariff oyer-favoTab bic 10 his constitu
sncy effects @ The @ rg o. Of fe d 10 r p7opo m 9s
tions These men insist on again legislating not
FOR the nation but for their respective constiuen
cies only.
The report said the ''inexperience Of those who
have framed tariffs IS surprising, and that in
the making Of tariff bills only or two mem
bers OF the House Committee knew anything about
the subject.
Colonel Dean presented the minority report, de-
1nanding that the tariff be let alone i regret
that this association should go into politics. he
said. 1t VIII loss Of revenue and power. We
have lost prestige by abusing those VINO are pro
1ectionists and who best friends in our
fight gainst other injurious interests The history
Of the DingIey pll IS its best defence"
Then Mr.. Gillespie attempted amend the reso-
buttons by striking out the words for perTna-
:lent semi judicial tariff commission saying that
.he report contained misstatements, that il was
setrng interest against another, and that the
lawmakers should not be criticised. The stability
Of the association. he said, was threatened.
E. P Robinson, OF Boston. tried to get motion
70 adopt the minority report before the associa-
s1on. but Thomas P. Eagan, Of Cincinnati. moved
10 adopt the majority report. which was done.
During the fight the resolutions Mr.. Van
Cleave assured the members that Congress was
Friendly.
The amendment 10 the resolutions was tabled,
and then they were carried, with only one dissent
Ing vote
ANTI-GoMPERs SPEECH.
There was rafting aati-Gompers speech by
Judge Sperry. OF Jersey City, who said that
Gumpers did not represent the American laboTer.
who patriot. and not buccaneer- To 1--we
CJornpeTs needed war; TO live, the laoorer needed
work he said
Strong resolutions against an increase IN freight
rates east Of the Mississippi and north Of the
Ohio River were adopted
A telegram Secretary Root regarding
the postofsce appropriation and the ship subsidy
amendment Postmaster General Meyer answered
81 saving that nothing had been done about the
former and that the House conferrees were op-
posed 10 the Senate amendment to the ocean mall
bill A message sent then 10 the House con-
serrees saying that the association was unanimous
in requesting them favor the passage of the bill
Richard D. Harlan, son of Justice Harlan, OF
The United States Supreme Court, spoke the
efforts being made 10 place the consular service
within the civil service.
President Van Cleaye in his report opposed the
labor bills saying that the Hepburn bill would
throw e sufficient senplance ot legality over the
boycott 10 encourage the American Federation OF
Labor 10 resume that practice and start new
ORGY OF criue." He considered the boycott only
one OF the many dangerous features Of the bill,
which. he said would legalze the sympathetic
strike and other malicious practices which ninety
nine out Of every hundred Americans want TO pre-
vent 10 extirpate-
<ATIoNAL RESOURCE WASTE.
Nj Var Cleave called attention TO the waste of
the ua1ional resources. The employers liability
measure was said be class legislation, but Mr..
Nan Cleave said that the union did not get all
they wanted In regard the associations politi-
cel efforts his report said:
We must broaden the field Of our work. What
have Just done and still doing IN Wash
.nguon must do in Albany. Harrisburg, Boston.
Columbus, Springfield and the capitals OF All ule
rest Of the great industrial states The nlachin-
cry FOR this broadening OF the scope of our work
IS already operation. and VIII soon, nope, De
put in motion in the new field
Mr.. Van Cleave said that the furry Of 1907 was
not a panic. There need, he said, of more
aexbility in the currency, and he said he believed
that this probably would be provided one Of the
results of the money scare.
The child labor report showed that much progress
sn legislation for the protection Of children had