New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-18
POWERS or THE TARIFF BOARD

Our former neighbOr, ''The New York Times"
would lie glad to believe that the paragraph in
the Payne law creating board of tariff experts,
10 he chosen by the President will open the way
10 the collection of Trustworthy data showing
the cost Of production abroad OF articles on which
customs duties are now laid. on the theory that
they cover the differental in cost of production
and also assure the domestic producer of similar
articles reasonable margin of profit. II hopes
That our construction of the tariff board para
graph-a construction accepted by President Taft
and Senator Aldrich-is correct. but is skeptica
and loath TO he persuaded 1t fears that the
ndpatters' in Congress wholly vitiated the
Senate's amendment and limited the Jurisdiction
of the tariff experts to investigating discrimina-
lions against American trade on the part of for
eign countries which might require the enforce
ment against those countries of the maximum
schedules Of the new tariff law
The Times questions the validity of our
argument TO show that under the law as It
stands the assistants named by the> President
VIII have ample authority to inquire into the
cost of production abroad. II does not accu-
rate'y Reproduce that argument when it says:
The Tribune rejoices in sharing that opinion
tine lopinion OF President Taft that thS~iaw
gives a wide latitude for the acquisition OF ir-
formation as to the price and cost of production
OF goods al home and abroad, and bases IL
uppil It's discovery luat Mnlle the remnant of
the tariff commission clause does limit the func-
uons Of the clerks TO maximum rate matters
the administrative part of the new tariff law
confers far wider powers
We held, on the contrary. that the tariff COM
mission clause does not limit the functions of
the board Of experts To inquiries as to discrim-
nations entailing the application of the maxi
mum rates The law says:
To secure information to assist the President
IN the discharge of the duties imposed tYpon him
IN this section. and the officers Of the Government
"a me administration OF the customs lars the
president Is hereby authorized to employ such
persons as may be required
Now, IL is evident that If the experts are an.
thorized TO secure information TO assist flle Of
hcers OF the government in the administration
Oh the customs laws the scope Of their duties
u.s. as Mr.. Adrieh said in the Senate as wide
as the laws themselves Mr.. AIdrich WAS NOT
talking loosely when he thus defined the func-
tions OF the experts:
Ihese men are TO assist the collectors OF reve-
nue. and the most important duties az thosa
officers under this bill are 10 ascertain ,ha 90
elsn Faluatfon or goods. including their cost ~
production. and also the domestic valuation "
The experts are TO assist the .anpraiserS "a
well as the collectors We quotef ON Nfondo,,
the language of the administrative part of tbe
Payne law 10 show that the appraisers have tho
widest latitude in ascertalning foreign COST 90
production when that cost enters as an elemant
into the adjustment OF customs duties II wouId
be great help to the appraisers il the tariff
board should collect for their use Information
covering the details of cost enumerated in Sec
ton IL Of the administrative part of the law.