The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-14
a TARIFF coN1NnssIoN.

An essentially important feature
of the tariff bill which will demand
the attention of the conferees is the
proposition of the senate authoriz-
ing the president to employ such per-
sons as may be required ito make
thorough investigation and examina-
ton into the production, commerce
and trade of the United States and
foreign countries. and all conditions
affecting the same"
This provides in reality for the
creation of a sort of a tariff COM
mission. 1t is not the kind of al one
that those interested in this subject
would like to see esta blished. And it
is designed primarily for the purpose
of providing the president with the
information he will need to put in
operation the plan of maximum and
minimum tariff rates when the oc-
casions demand them. But it is the
first step toward a scientific. honest
and satisfactory method of handling
the tariff question in the future.
According to a circular issued by
the executive committee of the gen
eral committee of 100 for a tariff
commission the advocates of a real
tariff commission have approved this
Aldrich provision because it means
an opportunity to demonstrate to the
country the value of the commission
idea. President Taft has stated sew
eral times that he is more than will
ing to give the business men of the
country such an opportunity, and he
is expected to use his influence to this
end with the conference committee.
where, rather strange to say, there is
opposition to the plan on the part of
some of the influential house con-
ferees.
AS stated, this is a step towards
the creation of a real tariff COM
mission, which is so sorely needed to
divorce the tariff question from
politics and to investigate trade con-
ditions so that a tariff law may be
devised which will give all of the pro-
lection needed to American Industries
and at the same time permit a
healthy competition in the markets
of the United States on the part eff
foreign producers. Such a COM
mission would be able to attack the
big question OF an adequate tariff re-
vision in the correct manner. 1t
could gather the exact information
which congress needs to work out a
true ldEII law. mere mas D66n
plenty of evidence during the past
few months that congress has notl
had at it's fingers ends this most
necessary information. In fact. on
several occasions. Mr. Aldrich. when
forced to bay by Senator Bristow and
others. was compelled to admit that
the information on which various
schedules were framed had been fur
nished him by parties who would be
the most benefited by high protec-
tive duties. and that such information
had been accepted as the facts in |
the case.
Senator Root, of New York, hit
the nail on the head as to the needs |
of a tariff commission in one of his |
speeches when he said. at hope that |
before we leave this chamber we |
shall provide. in one form or an
other, for a commission which will |
lay before the congress the next
time it comes to revise a tariff, the /
facts on which they are to proceed"
1t is to be sincerely hoped that the !
house conferees will see the right
light and not place any serious
opposition to the tariff commission
plan suggested by the senate. It may
not be the most desirable sort of
tariff commission scheme. but as in
most other cases it will be a half loaf
that is much better than none at all.