The Washington herald., 1909-04-03

Republican members Of the Senate
Finance Committee have adopted a pro-
posed amendment to the Payne tarir
bill which is intended 10 afford greater
elasticity in the application and enforce
ment OF the maximum and minimum pro-
vision Of the House measure.
Much dissatisfaction has been ex-
pressed over the arrangement proposed
oy the Payne bill for applying maximum
or minimum rates OF duty 10 articles i'm
ported into the United States.
The amendment OF the Republican men,
bsrs OF the Finance Committee was
drawn by Senator Aldrich. and. taken in
connection with the criticism Of the House
provision, the favorable reception given
TO It by the few in high quarters who
have been made acquainted with its
terms indicates that il IS likely to be
accepted by both branches.
In the House tariff bin the minimum
rates OF duty prescribed are to be ap-
Piled to the products Of an countries for
sixty days and applied thereafter TO the
products Of such countries as consent to,
impose on American products the rates
or duty prescribed for the products of
other countries which are accorded the
most favorable treatment in tariff mat
ters.
Provides Regulatory Schedule.
Countries failing to accord most IA
vored nation" tariff privileges TO the prod
ucts OF the United States Will be Obliged
TO pay the maximum rates Of duty pre-
scrloec In the House. bill. In criticism OF
this provision It has been maintained that
II affords no discretion to the admins
trative authorities OF the United States 10
make exceptions in favor Of any country
not according 10 the United States the
most favored nation tariff PRIVILEGES
This provision. as II stands in the House
measure. might lead. il is cOnfentled. 10 a
taTin war with some foreign nations
which. for perfectly justiiable reasons.
are unable to comply with all the pro-
VISIONS OF the House bill, though willing
10 accord every privilege possible 10 duti-
able products from the United States.
Some OF the European countries bv
reason OF peculiar Industrial condl-
uons' due 70 geographical proximity or
otner causes, have reciprocal tariff ar-
rangements that might be thrown out OF
Keller. II is held, II extended to include
the United States. II is contended that
TO ask these countries to apply all the
benefits OF these reciprocal tariff arrange
ments TO the United States would be
going too far. Failure to do so would.
under the terms Of the Payne bill com
pei this government to apply its sched-
ules Of maximum duties 10 the products
or the foreign countries in question. and
not only cefeat in large measure the |
downward revision principle OF the Amer
lean tariff act. but rob American ex-
porters Of the benefits Of the minimum
rates accorded most favored nations OF 4
foreign governments. as, Of course, these I
foreign governments would apply their /
maximum rates 10 our products.
At Discretion of President.
The proposed substitute OF the Senate \
Republicans is 10 provide that the mini /
mum rates Of duty prescribed in the
forthcoming tariff law shall go into ef- /
feet Immediately with reference 10 the
products Of foreign countries. and shall I
continue in effect for a period of ten /
months or one year.
During this prescribed period the Presi- |
dent Is to satisfy himself whether most
favored nation treatment IN tariff mat
ters is accorded TO the United States BY
foreign countries.
This provision leaves II to the discre-
ton Of the President TO determine
whether discrimination exists. and does
not bind him hard and fast. as the
House bill does. 10 apply the maximum
rates Of duty 20 products Of a foreign
country which. through some peculiar ar
rangement, may give one OF its neighbors
preferential rates in certain instances al
though giving TO the United States the
same tariff benefits as are accorded TO
other nations regarded as receiving IA
VOred treatment
One objection urged to this proposed
amendment Is that Il seeks to delegate
legislative authority to the Executive.
and would therefore be declared null and
void But those who have used this
argument with President Taft have
found him fully prepared TO refute them.
for when Mr.. Taft was Solicitor General
OF the United States he appeared before
the United States Supreme Court for the
Federal government in opposition TO a
similar contention against the validity
Of a provision Of practically the same
import in the then tariff law. Solicitor
General Taft won his case The Su-
preme Court laid down the rule that tbe
ccnferring OF authority on the Executive
~ oNAAt RAnAlAhC NdElI TdLES was not a ]
delegation OF legislative power, but a
mere delegation or administrative AL
thority.
President Approves Amendment.
President Taft has expressed approval
Of the Aldrich substitute for the House
bill provision. He regards ii as more
elastic and. therefore. more feasible.
With his sanction of the amendment. its
chance OF enactment into law is regard
ed as excellent.
In the proposal Of the Republican men,
bers Of the Senate Finance Committee.
acting on the suggestion OF Chairman Al I
drfch, 70 create some sort OF a. tarifY bu-
reau. the intent is not TO create anv ex-
ira department Of the government which
will require the appointment Of an addi-
tonal set Of officials and employees but
ths utilization in a more effective wav
OF the machinery OF existing bureaus
which have 20 do with collecting in
formation affecting trade and commerce.
Whether these several bureaus SHAH
be araalgamated has not been determined
by those who are framing the proposed |
provision.
Under the proposed discretionary power
10 be vested in the President TO determine
whether maximum or minimum tariff |
rates shall DO applied to the products OF !
? nv f0rofg7 cour4rr~ tT-g- |