The Washington times., 1909-12-11
Advocates of Tariff Commits
sion Now Take Opt
miStic View.
PRESIDENT MAKES
OWN CONSTRUCTION
Advocates of Inquiry Disagree
With Views Expressed by the
~ Chief Executive.

.- Advocates Of a tariff commission.
ihwho at first were disposed to be
greatly pleased with President Taft.s
E discussion OF the present tariff board
1sin his message, are now beginning
seto take an opposite view.
They fear the Presidents decIara-
ton OF his purposes in regard to the
new board, will have the effect of
breaking the force OF demand for the
nrereation Of a real and effective com
omission.
- 1t is their position. in short. that
the present board can at best be
made only make shift; but they
are afraid that the Presidents decla-
ration of his intention TO use the
board for the business Of determining
comparative costs of production at
home and abroad will convince many
.Speople this board can do everything
a regular commission could do, with
a much larger delegation OF power.
'' 1t is pointed out that the provision
creating the present board was
purposely narrowed by the Senate
majority so as TO make il impossible
Ito gather this information. In order
10 make certain the intent, Senator
Hale was asked the question. when
the provision was before the Senate,
whether the money appropriated for
1the board could, under the clause as
drawn. be used to gather statistics
OF home and foreign cost
81 mot dollar of it," replied the
uSenator.
Accepted Understanding.
That was the accepted understand
Ding, with which, IL is only fair 20 say,
even the advocates of such inquiry
disagree They don't believe he has
any power to make this investigation
through the board. and they argue
4that if he does make it, and does get
valuable information. the Senate
leaders are altogether likely to ig-
more il. insisting that il is unautho-
rized and extra official, and entitled
TO no weight.
This would be a most serious mis-
fortune for the tariff revision cause.
1.-The new board viii not be ready 10
present such information. in any such
detail as TO Justify its use in prose-
cutting a further revision, for a long
time. II, when the next revision
comes-and IL is generally expected
10 come In the near future-this in
formation should be rejected by the
Ways and Means Committee IN the
House and the Finance Committee in
the Senate, II would leave Con gress
in no better position to 20 ahead re-
making the schedules than ii was
. on. March 10 last, when IL sat down
40 the task. frankly admitting that
II didn't know thing about the
suppose explained a Republican
reviSionist. that we are unable TO get
n real tariff commission authorized be-
cause Of the suppOsitiOn that this board
IS the real thing Then we go on for "a
few years, the board gathering informa-
ton. and finally a revision is under
faken, and all this Information Is sent
10 the Congressional committees Now
q committee headed by a man OF the
views which today prevail regarding
Hafa fr.r.a
would be most likely to refuse 10 accept
that information as OF any value or Of
f fetal >, Sh ar. ter aud We would have
FAR as ever from real revision"
Work for Law.
This Is the view which has caused
CHE revisionists to doubt whether they
are pleased over the Presidents DO
sition in the message. They win go
ahead and talk and work for the pas
sage Of a tariff commission law. The
Ia FOllete and the BeyeridEe bills both
have strong support, but neither Of them
IS expected to get out Of the Finance
eksommittee. The Presidents position
evil weaken any movement TO force
ahem out. There was discussion. at the
" lose Of the tariff session, of the pos
ability Of mastering votes enough 20
glrder the committee 20 report one Of the
bills, but this possibility has vanish
I'D because several Senators are known
70 be unwilling to join IN such ef-
FORT. in view OF the fact that the Presi-
gent seems satisfied with what he al
@eady has.
IN fact, three or four Senators are
named, who were formerly expected 10
assist IN forcing a report Of a tariff
commission bill, who are now entirely
4atisfed and will stay with the orEani-
cation. This has probably put an end
40 whatever chance formerly existed
20 get such a measure forced out Of
4he Finance Committee.