The Washington times., 1909-07-24
LAST-DITCH OPPOSITION TO
TARIFF COMMISSION.

In the last days of the tariff con-
sideration, interests hostile to the
creation of a tariff commission are
making every effort to secure further
emaseulation of that provision. The
opposition has been. so far as possible,
conducted sub rosa. The effort has been
to induce the conferees quietly TO fix
up the provision so as to make it Just
as nearly worthless as possible, while
leaving enough of it to carry the name
1t is safe to guess that so per cent
of the people in the country who have
any views at all on the subject are to-
day in favor of a tariff commission. A
year ago it was doubtful if the country
was for such a body. Today, after hav-
ing the incapacity of Congress illumined
as it has been during the special ses-
sion; after noting a discussion whose
chief benefit has been in turning on
little light; after getting Just a few
glimpses into the crannies and dark
corners of the tariff building business.
the country is pretty thoroughly of one
opinion. 1t believes that in the nature
OF things Congress cannot possibly be
competent to conduct the expert inves-
legations necessary to provide real light
on the vast complication of business and
commercial problems, domestic and
foreign. which must be answered in the
making of tariff bill.
The provision which was inserted in
the Senate bill, looking to a commits
sion, is meager enough; it should be
expanded and ampliied. But, instead,
there is determined effort further to lop
of the powers and dignity of the body;
and this should under no circumstances
be permitted.
The measure now before the confer
ence provides that the President may
appoint the members OF the commits
sion, who shall gather information for
the use of the President and Congress.
1t appears that opposition demands that
the provision be amended to strike out
the reference TO Congress. That is,
if thus amended, the commission would
be little other than a delegation of
Treasury "experts"-the quotation
marks are justified by recent experience
with these fmctionaries- whom
the President might advise, if he chose,
about the administration Of the maxi
mum and minimum and other admins
trative provisions Of the act, and on
whom he could call for special infor-
nation if he wanted IL at any time.
The President has ample power to do
all this without any more law. He is
the Chief Executive; the Treasury and
its people are at his command. The
real purpose of such an amendment
would Of course be merely to minimize
the standing and Importance and credit
OF the commission. 1t would not even
have the dignity OF the name of com
mission.
If they want TO do it, the conferees
viii doubtless be able TO fix such
little matter, in the haste and con
fusion Of making and considering their
report. But there ought to be watchful
eyes on this provision, and prompt pro-
test against all attacks on it, The best
that can be secured at this time is
meager beginning toward a highly de-
-irable accomplishment 1t ought not
10 fail, because its failure under the
circumstances would SAVIOR strongly of
bad faith with the public There viii
be plenty OF ground for such a charge
as that without piling up new evi-
dence at this late hour