The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-16

commission A few of the objectors
say that the work of President Ar
thurs commission of 1882 was dis
regarded by Cong ess. This is not
true. The tariff of 1883 was largely
based on the commissions recon-
merdations. And, on the whole,
that was the best balanced tanfl
which the country has seen in
generation. President Taft will
bave more material from which to
select commission than Mr.. Arthur
had. The one which we ask will be
permanent. Thus 1t can do better
work than .Arthur's did. f4 t
Some of car critics say that
permanent tariff commission would
keep trade constantly disturbed Ger
many and France have permanent
commissions. Has any of our critics
ever heard or read that the recon-
.mendations of those commissions
ever unsettled trade over there?
think not.
We have right to look for SINH
lar feedom from business derange.
ment. Manifestly changes based or
the report of a board of impartial,
capable men would be likely to be
logical, equitable and honest. On the
either hand, changes by the present
tariff framing machinery are usually
dictated by the log rolling of special
interests, by the clamor OF locality,
and by the desire----the very natural
desire--by Cong. essmen to gain votes
Tor themselves in the primaries and
at the polls. Why, we are told that
every schedule is a compromise or a
tillde.
Put, ask other cities, would not
the existence of permanent com
ssion excite the fear of frequent
ichanges, and thus keen business In
perpetual uncertainty? This danlyer
wcilld be guarded against by a pro-
vision in the art that certain sti-
puated time---siX o. eight MONTHS
would elapse after the passage o.
the act before the changes could
take effect. Thus trade would have
ample time to adjust itself TO the
new conditions. When these adjust
ments are once made, there will he
no necessity for frequent changes.
Now let me mention that class OF
opJedtors, among whom is the
American Protective Tadn League.
who pretend that we want the COM
mission to usurD the constitutional
powers of Congress and frame tariN
bi!l~. Let me tell you, my friends
that this charge is based pa-tly on
ignorance and partly on malice.
Ignorance makes It because It has
net examined our proposition. Malice
makes 1t be5luse it wants To frame
defective tariff, like the resent
act, and like all aecent acts II wants
me existing method retained because
OF the graft that is in 1t, or because
IL wisheG 70 keep the tariff issue In
politics. We can convert honest
ignorance, AMI stand ready to do II
But the triciery and dishonesty
wh'ch is voiced Ly the Anne. e.tcan
Protective Tariff League have no
rights which this convention feels
found to respect.
Here is the situation which con-
fronts the county. Congress Is to be
called in special session few weeks
hence to revise the tariff The Re-
publican National Convention prom
ised this. Before the election and
since, the Republican candidate
pledged himself to Il. For us, there
fore, who want hone.t, sane ta.iff,
Irevision---a tariff adiIster TO the cX-
i5ting trade conditions. abroad as
well as at home---the time to act is
now.
The business men of the country
demand the establishment of a tar
in commission composed OF broad
garIge, impartial men; who a'e cap
able OF handling great enterprises.
We want men who, in the interest
OF the American people, can think
and act in large way
Before | go any farther let me
say that the commission could not
new do the wo:Ik quick enough
which the extra session will be
called upon to perform, in a provi-
sional way. Let the extra session
make the changes in the duties which
1t believes to be mosi urgently ana
most Immediately needed, then pas
q commission bill, and then go
home. All this ought not to take
more than sixty days. Thus the prom
ise or the platform and the candid.
ate would be kept Thus also the
business disturbances would end
speedily. President Taft would then
have an early opportunity to APP
point the comm ssion That bodS
could make the investigation and col
leo the facts on which Congress, In
the regular session year hence, or
In subsequent session, could base
the tariff adjustment which the
country's business interests, the
welfare OF its workers and the pros
perity OF the entie people demand
Orr object here today Is to take
the tariff out of partisan politics,
and keep II out. In this purpose
we feel that we are backed by the
great mass of thinking Americans.
consumers and produce's. AS every.
body In this hall knows, the man
who will call Congress in session a
Few weeks hence stands with MS.
This convention of representative
American business men calls upon
our national law makers to insure
The country an adjustment of the
ta.dn according 10 the elemental die