New-York tribune., 1909-01-26
FOR 4 TARIFF COMMISSION.

BreSi0ent-elect 1a1t mas written n reuter- ~
Chairman Serene E, Payne Of the Ways and
Means Committee of the House of Representa-
tives defining more explicitly his views as to
the value Of q permanent tariff commission and
the work 1t should do, If created. He says that
an earlier letter of his approving the general
purposes Of the tariff commission convention to
be held at Indianapolis next month. has been
misconstrued in so far as II was held 10 approve
the establishment of q commission with full
power to make and alter tariff schedules. Mr..
Taft does not believe that Congress should sur
render or try to surrender, its constitutional
power to lay tariff taxes. Congress is charged
with the duty of raising revenue, and should
fulfil that duty. But though primarily respons-
BILE for the taxes levied, the two houses should.
In Mr.. Tafts opinion. be glad to have the best
expert advice obtainable to the effect on trade
and industry of changes In rates. They should
welcome practical assistance in determining what
degree of protection is really needed to develop
home industry and what degree is needless
burden on the domestic consumer
1t is no reflection on the capacity Of the MEM
bers Of the Ways and Means Committee Of the
House or the members of the Finance Committee
of the Senate to say that they cannot hope to
master unaided the complexities of tariff egisla-
ton. 1t was relatively easy TO acquire sufficient
knowledge of the details Of tariff legislation
years ago. when foreign trade was light and do
mestic production was Insignificant. But the
enormous growth of industry here and the slim
ulation of foreign intercourse through the multi
plication Of means of transportation have made
the problem of balancing the interests involved
far more intricate. The methods followed In pre-
pairing the Mckinley tariff act of 1890 the wilson
German tariff act Of 1894 and the Dingley tariff
act of 1897 were anything but thorough and
scientific The committees of the two houses did
Iha Nv md
had more weight than economic ones. That was
unavoidable of course for the tariff had uhhap
ply been made partisan issue. and the two
parties in Congress had TO hold together as par
tisans instead Of dealing with the schedules in
the broader scientific spirit. Some of the
rowness and misconceptions Of those tariff strug-
giles survive, and it is important that as much
emphasis as possible shall be laid on the idea
that not partisan and sectional prejudices, but
pra ctica1 business considerations ought 70 gov
ern in revising the tariff.
The Tribune strongly advocated the reation
last winter of tariff commission, TO make
preliminary investigation of conditions in trade
and manufacture and help TO determine cost
of production. cost of transportation, margin
of profit and other data which have been
established heretofore pdrte and mper-
fectly sifted testimony. We think mistake
was made in not setting such IA commission
to Work, and we DeieNe UldI q permanent DOdTu
of Investigation could do an invaluable service
in studying from year to year the operation of
the schedules and determining which of them
were working satisfactorily and which were be
coming ineffective and obsolete. AS Mr.. Taft
well says, the country now lacks authoritative
evidence on which TO base tariff changes. 1t Is
not satisfied with the necessarily inadequate tes
timony developed by the recent hearings before
the Ways and Means Committee. 1t wants to
see the policy Of protection carried out broad
mindedly and scientifically. This cannot be done
If we are to follow the precedents Of the last
three revisions. 1t is impossible now to get the
full benefit of an inquiry through a commission ;
for the administration and the Republican party
are pledged to revise the tariff at extra
sion after March 4, and the work will have to be
done in the light of such Information Con-
gress may have at its command within the next
few months. As ii is. we feel confident that the
two houses will take a long step in the right di-
rection. But for the facilitation of future re-
visions il would be wise TO create permanent
investigating body charged with assembling data
to show actual conditions in all the industries
be affected by tariff legislation.