New-York tribune., 1909-02-18
DEMAND A COMMISSION
REFUSE TO "REQUEST" AT
TARIFF CONVENTION.
Strong Resolutions adopted after
Warm Debate = Senator
BeUeridge Speaks.

Indianapolis. Feb. IA demand for the i'm
mediate creation by Congress OF permanent
tariff commission was expressed to-day In reso-
l,.ttons adopted by the tariff convention TO
dIspel any idea that the purpose Of the conveh-
ton was to delay action the tariff by Con-
Rress. a provision was added urging that Con-
gress at its special session shall prepare ana
adopt revised tariff to the best of Its aoihty
under present conditions
While the adoption of the resolutions was
preceded by heated debate. lasting over t"o
hours the arguments seemed based on mis-
understanding of the committees report ra'hel
than radical differences Of opinion, and the orisl
nal report was adopted with the exception OF
few unimportant changes in wordlng- 4he le0'
lutions as adopted follow:
We demand from Congress. for the =, equal tni
benefit OF all classes of the people ana IN the
name of all American industry, OF farm, 1actoIS'
labor and commerce. represented in the Ma
tional Tariff Commission convention heid a'
indianapolis consisting OF delegates from forty
two states and representing 2ZS agrlcultu I a''
civic commercial and Industrial bodies, xhe I'M I'M,
mediate creation of a permanent tarlL com
mission for the following purposes and enos'
through Congressional action: ,
First-The collecting and Intelligent, thOroush
and unprejudced study of tariff facts
Second-The developments and enlargement
Of our foreign trade
Third-The accomplishment Of this by recip-
rocal trade agreements. based on maximum ana
minimum schedules.
Fourth-The adjustment OF the tariff sched-
les so that they shall affect all interests equl-
taby.
paid on the imports from any foreign country
within the limits of the maximum and minimum
rates established by Congress, under reciprocal
direction of the President, in order thereby 10
develop and protect our foreign trade by the
means favored by President Mckinley ana
authorized by Sections 3 and OF the Dinsiey
We urge that prior to the passing Of a bill
creating such commission Congress, during its
speciaI session about to be called, shall prepare
and adopt with the assistance Of the best IN
formation presently available. revised tarln
as completely and accurately adjusted TO pres
ent conditions. and therefore as stable as is
possible at this time
over the use of the word demand" in the
first line OF the resolutions battle OF words
was waged. The speech of Congressman Fowler
on the preceding day, when he told the conven-
ton that the House and Senate would not will
ingly yield one atom OF their power evidently
had aroused a fighting spirit in the delegates.
who refused TO substitute the word request,
a suggested by several
The work OF the convention practically
completed at a night session with the adoption,
Of the following resolution. providing for per
manent organization;
Resolved. That to provide for a permanent
organization to carry into effect the conclusions
of this convention the chair shall appoint
committee OF, one hundred. OF which not less
than two shall be appointed from each state Of
the Union, with the temporary and permanent
chairaen of this convention as members ex-
oficio. from which committee the chairman OF
this convention shall designate an executive
committee Of nine members and financial COM
rnittee of fifteen members and the chairman OF
the convention shall be ex-ofticio member OF
each Of these committees.
FIJI stnlrnan. Of New York. probably will be
chairman OF the financial committee
After much debate at the night session Of the
convention a preamble of explanation for the
resolutions adopted approved. 1t declares
the commission plan a scientific one which will
enable Congress TO concentrate its time on con-
structve legislation data supplied by the
commission and give the executive departments
assistance in intelligently negotiating CONNER
.cial agreements for the extension of foreign
trade.
SENATOR BEVERIDGE'S SPEECH
Senator Beveridge. who has taken prom
inent part in the efforts to procure permanent.
non-partisan tariff commission. was the prin-
clpal speaker day. He said in part:
Within less than four months new tariff will
have been made. hope and believe It Will be the
wiIi bs historic in this that IL will be the last
American tariff created without the aid of tariff
!
classhcations Tor Congress; and not to fix duties.
which is the exclusive business of Congress.
tariff commission is created and has made neces-
sary Investigations and arranged scientific classih
cations-that would require at least two years and
ought to take a longer period SO. for the last
time, must have tariff bulded in the old way.
But that this shall be the last tariff thus builded.
we soon must provide a commission OF tariff
perts. The present emergency never must be
A permanent tarIr commission inevitable, be-
cause committees Of Congress cannot do the work
holding "hearings AZ these hearings; crowds S OF
cial rates Of duty jam the committee rooms Each
narticulsr husiness-of necessity he is far better
prepared than the whole committee put together.
Very 1eW the reat Boy Of consumers
/ These hearings rushed through with all posi-
sarIly waits until the tariff law is passed.
/ AFTER these brief hearings, the committee is sup
posed to digest SUCH facts as the bulky volumes Of
dare enter a decree in a single cause where the
Volume OF these committee hearings without first
referring such testimony TO master in chancery
HaSin attempted TO sift those voluninous masses
Of scattered testimony thus hastily taken. the COM
nittee next gees TO the even harder work Of fix
ing 81 e supposed to become thoroughly acqualnt-
ed with all the other elements. foreign and do
those duties. The result of all this is new
tariff - ,..,. ..-,-,
commission are asking only a commission wnlch
shall fnd out and digest the facts and make seen-
that Congress may have all this preparatory work
done when Congress goes TO ITS legitimate VOTE
OF fixing tariff duties and determining tarln
policies.
The speech stirred the delegates to many out
bursts of approval. Four OF the speakers listed
for the day were unable to be present. and one.
Congressman elect Cullop, of Indiana, needed