New-York tribune., 1908-08-25
BEGIN TARIFF REVISION
SUBCOMMITTEE MEETS.
WI Gather Much Information for
Use of Congress.
1Fronn TIE Tribune Bureau.l

Washington Aug 24.-Tarif revision was act
ually begun at the Capitol to-day. when Senate
subcommittee on the tariff, headed by Senator
Burrows of Michigan had its first meeting with
a view to investigating certain phases Cf the
subject and preparing sufficient preliminary data
to allow Congress to plunge promptly into the
middle of the revision and complete it as speed
lily as possible Following Mr. Tafts declaration
that an extra session of Congress will be called
to deal with the matter Immediately after his
Inaugural ton, the subcommittee members real
lied that there is vast amount or WORK 10 De
done, and that much of the success of the re-
vision depends them. They began work this
morning with the intention Of collecting all the
facts and figures possible, SO that the work or
the Finance Committee of the Senate and the
Ways and Means Committee of the House will be
made light possible, and that these COM
mittees may be able to begin hearings on the
first day of the session. instead of spending un-
necessary time in doing the preliminary work
The subcommittee which met this morning Is
of the three authorized by the Senate TO SIT
during the recess and directed to deal with pre-
lirninary questions relating to the tariff Inc
first subcommittee. composed of Senators Al
drich, Hale, Daniel and Teller, was commits
stoned to investigate the foreign markets OF the
United States. to study the tariff methods IN
many Of the larger nations and in short, tc be-
systems. This subcommittee already has been
at work on these subjects in Europe, in conjunc-
ton with It's scrutiny of the European financial
methods The second subcommittee. which will
begin its work under the guidance OF Senator
Hopkins within the next week In New YORK,
will deal with the question of tariff duties In
general and the relative cost of merchandise
at home and abroad. Senators Burrows, Pen
rose Money and Taliaferro make up this sub
committee.
The duty of the men who met this morning Is
to look into the matter of the administrative
sections of the customs laws and the classifica-
ton of the merchandise, and this work was be-
gun with request to the customs officials Of the
Treasury Department to forward to the sub
committee their information the subject.
Each member OF the committee received a GER
tain portion of the work TO master. and by the
end OF two weeks Senator Burrows expects to
have amassed a wealth of information of both
an official and a commercial character. The
meetings here will be continued for three days,
after which the committee will go on to New
York.
1T is the intention of the members of these
subcommittee said Senator Burrows, ito be
gin this revision in a businesslike and practi-
cal manner. The Republican platform pledged
the party TO a revision of the tariff. which would
be thorough and sane. The people expect the
constructive party TO evolve a tariff bill in
which industry is sighted overlooked, and
this is the reason why we are bent on making
thorough investigation of all conditions and
circumstances surrounding tariff schedules. The
revision of the tariff Is business proposition.
not theoretical sentimental one, and are
about 10 proceed with the revision in a business
like manner"