Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-09-22

being considered for the place was when
he received an inquiry from the secretary
OF the treasury asking him II he would
accept, were it to be offered to him. 1t is
another illustration OF tie fact that Presi-
dent Taft is q wide-awake man who keeps
his eyes open and is in touch with the
men who are doing things.
On the morning of my call at the Emery
cottage, we were seated in the study OF the
cot ge, before the blazing logs in the fire.
place, for cold, damp fog prevailed along
the coast. As we talked. the mornings
mail was brought in. There was stack
OF it-more than some country postoffices
would get in a week. Excusing himself,
Prof. Emery ran through the letters, Sc
Letting those which looked important or
which he had reasons to expect were inn
portant. Suddenly he stopped, opened a
letter, read it, smiled and passed it to his
father, Chief Justice Emery, who entered
at that moment, and turning said to me !:
That's .he official notification and COM
mission
1t wasn't formidable looking affair.
Simply little typewriter letter of less
than 200 words, on smsll-sized letter
sheet and containing the Presidents sig
nature. II was simple, but il made the re-
cipient the head of what many people in
this country believe will be one OF the
most important commissions ever named
in the United states.
As son OF Maine is to act as pilot for
the commission of tariff experts to aid
President Taft and the treasury depart
ment in administering the new tariff Law,
it may not be amiss to say word or two
as to the work OF that commission.
II will be recalled that early in the tariff
debate, it was suggested that a commits
sion be appointed to investigate the tariff
subject and report to Congress at its next
session. The idea met opposition. Many
believed it wise move, but the opposition
was SO great that it was not deemedl adj
visable to try and force it through. The
matter was dropped. However, when the
Payne tariff bill was introduced it con-
tanned clause which gave the President
power to appoint commission to secure
information to assist in the administrs-
Ifou Vi tuS CustOils laws. TUT Auc GA
penses OF this commission, $4,000 was
appropriated.
During the debate on the tariff bill,
there was q wide difference of opinion
touching the scope OF the commission. As
the clause was part OF the maximum and
minimum provisions OF the act, Senator
Hale commended that 1t limited the COM
mission to exactly that work. The maxi
mum and minimum clause provides for .
maximum tarin on imports from countries
which discriminate against the United
States and . minimum for those which do
not. The clause under which the commits
sion lie named reads as follows:
ITO secure information to assist the Presi-
dent in the discharge OF the duties imposed
upon him by this section. and the officers Of
the government In the administration OF the
customs laws, the President is hereby author
ired to employ such persons rs may be re-
CURED"
Senator Hale's contention was that
the men SO employed could only advise
the President which countries were dis
eliminating against the United States
ahu AhOoC NhiNn WIZ hOts scCudtuI
Aldrich took broader veiw. He con-
tended that the commission would have
the authority to investigate the cost
of production at home and abroad, and
to advise the President, with this know
ledge, how to use the maximum and
minimum clause. 1t therefore will be seen
that there is vast difference OF opinion
as to the scope OF the work.
1t is, however, believed that which
ever view the commissioners may take
of their powers, this Is the beginning of
an important step forward; that it is
the forerunner OF scientific study of
the tariff problem, which will result In
. much better tariff arrangement.
When asked when he expected the COM
mission to organize, Prof. Emery said that
he could not say, Is yet, for he was wait
ing word from his colleagues, but he sup
posed it would be some time next week, in
Washington. As soon - the commission
organizes, q star of clerks will be assem-
hled and the work Of compiling the data
which the law requires the President to
have in his possession by March, 1910, will
be begun. How large that star will be, is
hard to say, but 1t will require q consid-
cradle number OF men, and they will have
to be experts, to large degree.
~ don't KNOW" said the professor, ssjust
what We are to do. There is nothing can
say until after . conference with the
Others on the commission. am going to
wait until the commission meets and
have had chance to examine the tariff at
close range before form any opinions as
to its needs at ALL"