The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-04-29
A TaliH Commission.

X
The creation Of a permanent tariff
commission Is an idea that is APP
pealing stronger egery day to the
press and the people. Metropolitan
and other newspapers are insisting
on the wisdom Of such an act by
congress Along this line the New
York Times recently commented as
follows:
II would be absurd to claim for
the Payne tariff nil that 1t applies,
or is intended to apply. the 'prin-
ciple that duties should not exceed
the difference in cost of production
At home and abroad. There is pre-
tense of such application, hut it
rests solely on the estimates of cost
I made by parties interested in high
taxes, If the principle is worth
I anything, IL 1t is to be observed an
faith as a pledge Of the party in
power II it is really to he the
measure of honest protection on the
one hand and some decent regard
for the consumer on the other hand,
and especially II it is to he used as
sa means of extending the legitimate
) foreign commerce of the United
States, then there must ibe created a
competent and impartial agency for
inquiry into alirthe' facts bearing on
domestic and foreign production.
Such an agency is provided in the
bill introduced in the House of
Representatives tDy Mr.. Gardner Of
New Jersey ae create iai tariff cons
mission and defiping Its powers and
iuties." The bill. we understand,
was drafted 'dbg the. executive COM
mittee of the Committee of one
Hunderd appointed at the Indianap-
oils convention. The commission is
TO consist of nine members appointed
by the President with the consent of
the Senate. The commissioners
must have practical knowledge Of
manufacturing agriculture, and Of
domestic and foreign commerce..
Their term is nine years, three go
ing out every three years. Their duty
in general Is to investigate all ques-
tons OF Federal taxation affecting
imports and foreign trade.
Specifically the commission is to
investigate the cost of production
of all articles covered by the tariff
with special reference to the prices
paid American labor in comparison
with the prices paid foreign labor,
the. prices Of the raw materials
whether domestic or imported, en-
tering into manufactured articles
the condition of domestic and foreign
markets as affecting American pro-
ducts, and all other, facts which in
the judgment of said commission NAV
DO necessary or helpful 10 Congress
In establishing rates of duties on anv
article and. in general, thoroughly
TO investigate all the various ones.
lions relating TO the manufacturing
agricultural, commercial. mining
and other interests of the United
States SO far as the same NAV liza
necessary or helpful to Congress IN
enacting customs tariff laws
it is also made the duty of tho
comlnission: to Investigate ali amos
lions involving the extension Of tho
trade of the United States with far.
eign countries and their colonies
and 10 assist the President nv rec.
concentrations covering negotiations
with the governments of foreign
countries and their colonies. or any
of them. with view of arranging
reciprocal agreements and eqniva.
lent concessions in favor Of the pro.
ducts, manufactures and commerce
Of the United States.
m the performance Of these high.
Is important, duties the commission
Is clothed with 'all the powers OF 1
United States district court to sum