The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-03
TARIFF COMMISSION
CONSIDEREDCERTAIN
Fear of Insurgents Forcing
Regulars Into Line for
Measure.
NEEDHAM FATHERS
MODIFIED SCHEME
California Representative Has
Plan Expected to Prove At
tractive to Radicals,

II the regulars and the insurgents can
be brought together, a tariff commits
sion plan VIII surely pass both houses
Of Congress this winter, in the opinion
Of those members who have been watch
ing the situation.
The howl throughout the West that
followed the passage OF the Payne-Al-
drich tariff bin and the fear that the
Democrats and insurgents may combine
to pass their own tariff commission
measure is going to bring forth a crop
of tariff commission bills from the regu-
lars themselves and a measure of this
kind is almost certain to pass the
House.
Representative James c. Needham
(Rep., Cali, a member Of the Ways and
Means Committee OF long standing and
an organization man, is preparing a
tariff commission bill which he says to-
day will probably receive the indorse-
mert OF the Ways and Means Commit
tee and the House organization. If 1t
does. II is so similar TO Senator La Fol-
Iette's plan as to get the insurgent
votes and a great many Democratic
ones besides.
Differ In Makeup.
needham's plan differs from La Fol
lettes principally in this makeup of
the proposed tariff commission. lie. Fol-
Iette would have the commission ap-
pointed by the President. Needham
would have it consist of five members-
one appointed by the majority OF the
Ways and Means Committee of the
House. one by the minority of the COM
mittee, che by the majority OF the Sen
ate Committee on Finance. one BY the
minority of thecommittee, and the other
by the President.
Needham would have his commission
confined to the business of investigation
and the reporting OF finding of facts
10 Congress. Its work would be secret
until made public by both houses OF
Congress or the one house acting in con-
junction with the President. He would
revise the tariff from time 10 time as
the findings Of the proposed commits
sion proved II to be necessary.
The Needham plan is the nearest ap-
proach to La Follette's plan that has
yet been preached by one Of the regu-
lars IN either house, and will probably
lsave the backing of the House Organi-
zstion-
Hearings Useless.
Everyone knows that the hearings
the tariff are absolutely useless said
Representative Needham today
we hear testimony from interested
parties whose interests are served by
perverting or concealing the facts. An
expert In any industry could force the
truth from these witnesses but no
member Of the committee knows enough
about any subject TO ask these ques-
tons.
1.-THE whole idea OF a tariff commits
sion is open 10 the objection that its
existence would tend 20 retard the in
yeStment OF capital where any industry
Is under examination. But we must
have some way of getting at the facts,
and I believe that the country is ready
for the tariff commission.
The main objection to the La Fol
lette plan is that he wants an executive
commission. Tariff making is the bust
ness OF Congress, not Of the President.
In fact, ] think II is the business Of the
House but the Senate would never pass
a bill that did not give it a share ina
the makeup OF the commission.
Now, under my plan the minority Of
both houses would be represented and
We could have men who would give