New-York tribune., 1909-05-18
lTR. DEPEW'S SPEECH.

Probably the least convincing passage in SEN
ator Depew's speech yesterday was that in
which he expressed his opposition to the crea-
ton of a permanent tariff commission. He
said. among other things:
1t is the nature of commission to seek to
enlarge its powers and to exploit its benefcence-
4 permanent tariff commission with perma-
neT1t lobby representing the two THOUSAND items
in the tariff bill and backed by the influence or
the Senators and members from the states
where these particular industries are located
would keep alive what the country most dep
recates and most feaTs-a perpetual tariff dis
turbance. Pass some law quickly and adjourn
Is what the country wants believe in th7
scheme outlined by our Committee on + nance
of creating from the experts of the government
who are familiar with every phase OF this queS-
tion and in constant touch with its administra-
tion a body within the existing departments
which inform the President Congress and
the Secretary of the Treasury OF the lnequah-
ties as they arise in the practical application OF
tariff duties, that without agitation WlthouI
an eternal tariff war and a perpetual tariff
lobby, with all that means IN the disturbance "I
business. an effective and noiseless machinery
would be automatically SOLVING problems as they
arise. Such commission would meet the crlu-
cisnns upon the ambiguity of the law ana the
mistakes in it's administration which We're SO
ably presented in the speech OF the senior sen
ator from Iowa
Here is a curious mixture of ideas. The
senior Senator from New York does not want,
apparently. to establish permanent commits
sion, exploiting its own benefcence." Yet he
goes far enough 10 approve of the creation or
a subordinate tariff board real commission,
he thinks, would simply find itself wrestling
with the mystifers of the lobby, as Congress
does The minor board would prove piece of
'noiseless machinery. automatically solving
tariff problems The minor board exists in
effect to-day. vet ii has not helped Congress TO
supersele present inept methods of tariff legiS-
Iation with methods which would show exactly
on what dfferential in cost OF production here
and abroad each protective duty is based. 1t
has not done SO because it has had no indie
pendence and authority.
Mr. Depew thinks that the evils Of the pres
ent system of legislating viii continue in an
exaggerated form if a real tariff commission is
created. The advocates of the establishment Of
permanent commission, with adequate pow
ers. maintain, on the contrary. that those evils
can be cured by providing Il body which will
furnish the data. now lacking, to illustrate the
effect Of any given duty and thus guide Iegis-
lators in applying a given tariff policy. Lob
bieS under the existing system labor to confuse
the Judgment of Congressman and 10 persuade
them into allowing protection a false basis.
In the present discussion in the Senate the
essential facts have not been produced, and
two sets of Republicans are trying TO execute
the mandate of the Republican national plat
form Of 1903. each depending on its own in
commission would not he long troubled by lob
byists 1t would find ont for itself what was
the real differentaI of cost of production, and
with that differential established the work of
Congress in laying duties according TO given
theory would become easy.
Mr.. Depew has not kept pace with the Senate
Finance Committee. for that body gave up
some time ago the idea of creating minor
tariff board. and in its substitute for the maxi
authorized the President to appoint compe-
tent commission. with ample authority in no
way restricting his choice TO the heads of gov
ernment bureaus. In dropping the sort of hos
tiity 10 the tariff commission plan expressed
in Mr.. Depew's speech the Finance Committee
showed its open-mindedness and disposition to
yield 10 widespread and we'll founded public
demand As Washington dispatches of yes
terday Indicated the tariff commission feature
Of the Aldrich bill is now recognized as its most
significant contribution to progressive tariff
legislation. Mr.. Aldrich's leadership in the Sen
ate has always been distinguished by ability
10 see when a concession should he made and
we do not doubt that in many other particulars
he Will seek to meet the criticism aimed at the
increases i'm duties made on articles which the
House of Representatives held could he ad-
mtted at lower rates without prejudice TO
American industry
With conditions they are and the old par
tisan algnmentS on the tariff issue gone it
must be remembered that the question at issue
in the Senate is not one between protectionists
and -protectionsts. hut one between two
sets of protectonists differing 10 the facts
which govern in applying a definite protective
rule. Mr.. Depew was laying ghosts to some
extent when he argued yesterday in favor Of
protection such. His speech as a whole was
interesting, and with its frank assertion of the
soundness Of the protective principle we
heartily sympathize. but II dealt only incl
dentally with the real problem before the
Senate