The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-12
Appointment of Commission
Makes Certain Down
ward Change.
CONGRESS TO FIGHT
AGAINST THE ACTION
President, However, Is Said to Be
Obdurate and Will Force
the Battle.
Bv John SNURE.

has Just been announced from Beverly.
is looked on in Washington as the most
important development in tariff matters
since the enactment of the new Aldrich-
Payne measure.
The makeup of the commission Is
such as 20 leave no doubt that President
Taft has concluded the tariff question
is not settled for an indefinite period.
as the leaders OF the Senate and House
wish the country to accept it, and that
he has determined 70 set about shedding
some real light on the inner workings
Of tariff schedules. In short, Mr.. Taft
will Dry open the tariff lid on which the
Finance and Ways and Means Commit
tees have long been sitting.
Another Revision Is Certain.
This means In all reasonable prob
ability that the agitation for revision
of the tariff cannot long be deferred. In
the opinion OF many shrewd observers
1t will be on IN full blast long before
the end Of this administration.
II means. also. that there Will be war
between President Taft and the Senate
and House leaders. The President has
named a tariff commission that will
undoubtedly bend its energies toward
going to the bottom OF the vital ques-
OF production at home and abroad. This
is the very question that the ultra high
tariff men. typif7ed by such leaders as
Senator Aldrich, Senator Hale. Speaker
Cannon Representative DalzeI. and
Others wish 10 have let severeSs alone.
The President Is bent on not letting
IL alone. and there is every indication
he has made UP the commission for the
purpose of having II probe into the
cost of production and the numerous
problems that hedge round the tariff,
and about which the country has been
kept In ignorance just as far as the
high tariff leaders could accomplish H.
President Answers Critics.
Presidenet Taft has answered the as
sertions of those who say he has no
authority TO set commission at work
on anything but the matter Of whether
foreign countries are discriminating
against the United States unduly, and
whether the maximum rates should ap-
ply. by naming commission dominated
by tariff reformers who are not imbued
with the idea that schedules are sacred
and whose disposition Will be to delve
deeply into every phase OF tariff matters.
If the commission does this il will put
into the hands OF the President a mass
OF Information which nothing can pre-
vent him from communicating TO Con-
gress at any time or from communicate
ing 10 the country through letters and
speeches. In other words. the President
Will have placed in his hands the am
munitiOn with which he can drive Con-
gress into overhauling schedules If he
believes IL best for the country
The personnel of the new commission
is as follows.
Prof. Henry G. Emery. Of Yale, chair
man, tariff reformer Of the order Of
such men as Prof Sumner and Prof.
Hadley, OF Yale.
James b. Reynolds. of Massachusetts,
Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury, a
tariff expert. with inclinations toward
fair and moderate revision
Alvin n. Sanders, or Chicago. editor
and proprietor OF the Breeders Gazette.
long tariff revisionist and a strong ad-
vocate OF reciprocity. with a view 10
extension Of American markets.
Macveagh Is Responsible.
Not the least interesting feature OF the
selection OF the new commission is that
Secretary OF the Treasury MacVeagh is
IN the first place responsible for it.
MacVeagh has never been accused Of
high tariff leanings His choice of men
was approved by the President.
II has been no secret for some time
that the President intended 20 make
use OF the authority which ne believes "a
given TO him by the tariff commission
legislation 20 az 10 get all possible out
Of II and shea some needed illumina-
ton on the tarin dark places. The
. President made this pretty clear when
the commission question was being dis
cussed I'm Congress.
Senator Beveridge and others who
were advocating q tariff commission
with claws were much chaRrined when
the commission provisions were shaped
up IN the Finance Committee. But they
were assured that the President felt
such authority as was left him would
p ample.
High Tariff Men Take Alarm.
Yor time, the commission provisions
in the bill were such as 10 authorize
the commission 20 furnish information
on the tariff 10 Congress Then the
President began talking downward re-
vision The House and Senate high
tariff men took alarm, and tho word
went around that President Taft had
studied political economy under prof
Sumner. accused by some OF being q
nee trader SO the language with re-
spect 10 the commission was so blue
penciIed that specific authority TO fur
nish information to Congress was with
held
At FIRST. the appropriation allowed
Was ZOO, but this was finally cut
down 70 $500. Late in the special ses-
sion, as showing the determination Of
the high tariff leaders that the pro-
posed commission should not he used 20
pry into any real tariff secrets. Senator
Hale made a speech In which he de-
clared with great emphasis that the
commission could do nothing but aid in
the enforcement OF the maximum and
minimum provisions and ascertain II
there was discrimination against this
country by other countries
He declared IL had nothing 10 do with
tho cost OF production
President May Force Congress.
But IL is clear the President does not
intend the commission shall be limited
20 technical questions. This means that
he Will come into prompt collision with
the high tariff leaders Of the Hale type
Confirmation OF the Presidents appoint
ments 20 this commission Is not neces-
ssry. But next winter there will arise
the question OF appropristing for the
commission for the next nscal year
Then IL will be that the leaders will try