New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-02
SLOW TO YIELD.

Opposition in Congress to the creation Of an
efficient tariff commission is not altogether sur
prisng. 1t is symptOmatc of condition Of
mind which has not yet adjusted itself 10
changed surroundings. 1t is another illustration
of how stubborny the old order usually fights
before confessing its death blow and yielding
place TO the new. In way there was something
pathetic about the insistence of the tariff con-
ferrees on a nominal Reputation of the commits
sion idea, while leaving it in the power Of the
President TO create a commission which will
accomplish that revolution in methods OF tariff
making Of which certain leaders in the two
houses of Congress seem TO stand in fear. The
attempted emascUlatOn Of the provision for
commission adopted by the Senate was an iu-
genuous effort TO avoid n confession that such
body was urgently needed to help Congress legis-
late But refusing TO confess what sill the world
already knows does not alter the situation
either in Congress or out of II. The need re-
Mains and II is safe TO predict that Congress
will never again revise the tariff without first
obtaining the data for guidance which it is the
function Of such 2 commission of experts to
collect
Nothing so impressed the country in the re
vision Just ended as the fact that It was being
prosecuted in the dark. The Republican ma
jority in the two houses attempted TO apply
definite rule for levying duties-a rule laid down
in the last Republican platform. But though
the rule was clear there were no data available
for guidance III using it. According to the Re
publican platform. sufficient protection was to
be given to cover the differential in cost Of pro-
duction here and abroad and TO insure the do
nestle producer a reasonable margin of profit.
1t was easy enough 10 set up a standard of
profit. but nobody in either house was ever able
TO lay hands on the elusive differential.
The Senate admitted its lack of information
and agreed TO President Tafts suggestion that
the best way 10 track down the differential was
to employ experts TO give all their time to its
pursuit 1t was evident that without precise
knowledge tariff making must remain merely a
balancing of two sets CT interested and partial
guesses. and tariff rate agreed on must often
represent a victory for the guesser with the
greater influence and more desirable political
connections. Many Senators sighed. no doubt,
before the consideration of the tariff bill
over. for some arbter of authority to whom dis
putes could be referred. for in a small body like
the Senate each member Is obliged to deal with
the vexatious demands Of numerous conflicting
interests. In the House. where the work of
tariff legislation is assigned to a small body OF
members and the great majority is expected 20
be satisfied with the privilege Of voting a
few selected items. the breakdown of the old
system not so apparent, and the House
leaders naturally wanted to retain a method
which concentrated vast power in their hands.
They were willing to get along without the
special knowledge needed. probably because IL
everybody had facilities for figuring out the diff
ferential there would no longer be any mystery
and sanctity about a committee bill
President Taft is determined that there shall
be no mystery about the preparation Of tariff
schedules IN the future. lie believes in working
in the full light, and there are great public adj
vantages in that method With a rule of action
and the data all at hand for applying IT. it
will he a comparatively simple matter 10 revise
the schedules when they need revision. Every
industry will know just what it deserves in the
way Of protection, and need not try to get more
than its share, lest it may possibly be left at a
disadvantage compared with other industries.
Congressman can then also tell how well founded
i'll founded demands made for protection
10 local interests. These wonders will all hap
pen If the tariff commission, the germ Of which
In the pending bill Congress tried to sterllize If
not TO kill, is allowed TO develop along practical
lines, doing in the field Of importation and pro-
tected domestic industry what the Interstate
Commerce Commission has done so successfully
in the field Of transportation. When that better
time comes Congress may wonder why ii ever
shortsghted enough 10 try TO retard an
experiment so helpful IN facilitating tariff legis
lation Of the rational sort.