The Washington herald., 1909-05-10
Revision Without Information.

We have always been impressed with
the reasoning Of those who favor the
reIegatlon OF tariff Jinkering 10 a perma-
neut bureau, which shah make some en-
deavor 70 find out the facts with respect
10 the necessity OF particular rates OF
duty. both for purposes Of revenue and
OF protection. During the recent tariff
debates many Senator's and Members OF
Congress have confessed their want OF
information as TO comparative cost Of
protection. which was TO have been the
guiding principle Of the present revision
Senator McCumber, FOR instance, has
lately remarked that neither the Finance
Committee nor the Senate had On hand
any satisfactory data for guidance IN FIX
ing rates OF duty. This information
ought 10 be eoIIsted By tariff experts, so
that Congress could use Il in passing
Judgment upon the reasonableness of
particular rates. As Senator McCumber
said. there is no need OF a tariff bureau
10 pass judgment upon what Congress
should DO. but II the bureau would fur
nish the facts Congress could exercise
the judgment. The so-cslIed tariff com
mission. provided for BY the AId-ich biz.
IS intended merely to supply the Presi-
dent with information for his guidance in
applying the minimum or maximum rates
Of duty to the Imports from other coun-
tries, and so falls short Of what a real
tariff bureau should be and DO.
OF course, We al understand that a
tariff expert Ike Senator AldFlch has no
need Of the information that could be
supplied by tariff bureau. His formula
for getting at the facts requisite 10 the
adjustment OF protective duties IS very
simple and eminently workabIe. It is TO
pay 10 attention to the tales OF wicked
importers. who may be very estimabIe
gentlemen, but are in the employ OF for
eigners, and TO take the word OF domestic
manufacturers, miners. and producers.
who are normally better worthy OF belief
than importers OF consumers. Whatever
protection is wanted should be given, pro-
vided it can be logrolled through the
Senate What other information Is needed.
OF what better can be found, than that
Of the man who says his industry viii
perish II some duty is reduced. or that
he can make more money II it IS raised? ?
Hearings are totally unnecessary. Let
the manufacturer send in the schedule
he wants. and We viii try and get it for
Kim The foolish Committee on Ways
and Means held hearings for months in
an effort to fnd out something about the
effect Of the Dingley tariff and the posi-
bility Of reducing It In certain directions.
Il was all tine lost so far as the Senator
from Rhode Island is concerned. He has
rot read q line OF those hearings. as he
confessed 10 Senator Dolliver:
''N-. Aldic5-8Ir. President. I have no knoEleirs
Thare7sr Of anything that trznspired before rhe
Conmittee On WAYS p.d Means have never
rad The hearings before that body. I have No
knowledge W idea about any statement that vas
made before that c1nmistee
M DoElivgr-I Ein say that the Senator
sron Rhods Island has not rad the hszrinss-
Mr.. Aid-ieh-I have uok
-Mr. DolliveT lcoutinEingl-Hs Is rot ii a poi
ti0u % bslittle the honest Efforts that have mad.
70 set At he truth of these matters for hare
thought It NJ DUTY TO read those hsariu-"
Get al the truth2 Why, what Is the
use? II comes direct from those wh7
need protection most. and who. therefore,