The Washington herald., 1909-07-17
A Tariff Commission Beginning.

An observation frequently met with IN
tariff discussion, both in Congress and
in the press. IS that the present tariff
bin IS the last that viii be framed with
out the aid OF a tariff commission or a
board OF experts which has given the
subject continuous attention for a series
OF years. The enactment Of 4 tariff
measure. IN certain aspects. attains the
proportions Of a national scandal Insult
hcient information and biased opinions
guide the makers Of a tariff bin. end
their followers. cropping about for facts.
are compelled 20 accept blindly the con-
.clusions prepared for them. frequently by
interested parties. Duties protective Of a
single industry or section Of country are
logrolled through on the principle Of give
and take, with the result that every bill
perforce contains more dutiable articles
and higher duties than il should under
any fair principle of protection Obscur-
ity attends many Of the schedules. the
effect Of which is uncertain and disput-
able. So unhappy are all the circum-
stances Of a tariff revision that every in
terest breads it, and there VIII be gen
eral sympathy with Senator Delivers
hope that American business may never
be put through such a sweat as it has
been this summer.
The tariff commission idea. however.
has met with cold favor in botn Houses.
A s, mewhat indefinite provision in the
Senate bill. the fate of which in confer
ence is still undetermined. gives the
President authority Ito employ such per
sons as may be required TO make thor
ough Investigations and examinations
into the production. commerce. and trade
Of the United States and foreign coun-
tries for the purpose Of securing infor-
nation 10 enable him 10 discharge his
duties under the maximum and minimum
sections. as wen as information which
will be useful 10 Congress in tariff Iegis-
lation and 10 the officers Of the govern
ment in the administration CT the Gus
toms laws Though unsatisfactory 70
the advocates Of a tariff commission with
specific function, this provision has
been accepted as the best attainable IN
der existing conditions. in the hope. to
quote Senator Newlands, that the per-
sons employed by the President may by
a process Of evolution gradually become
a tariff commission with fun power 70
act under a rule laid down by Congress. -
/ II is evident that the President can assist
this process Of evolution 10 a considerable
degree. under the liberal authority grant
ed him 10 employ such persons as he
chooses. yet he may be hampered in do
ing so by want Of the necessary appro-
priation a circumstance which has led
some people TO express suspicion as to
the sincerity Of the proposed legislation.
Whatever may be the fate Of the evo-
lutionary process hopefully looked for
ward TO by tariff commission advocates.
it is pretty certain that administrative
authority in the framing OF tariffs will
be vastly increased by the maximum and
minimum provisions. The determination
Of conditions justifying the application
Of the minimum tariG viii necessitate
the creation Of a permanent tariff bu-
reau with duties OF Investigation and
recommendation that viii give It's cor
clusions weight with both the executive
and the legislative hrnneh- It VIII ae-