The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-29
SAVES JOBS Of
TARIFF EXPERTS
Congressman LongwOrth's Bill
Proposes to Make Commits
sion Permanent.
BUCKEYE HOPES TO RESCUE
TRIBUNAL FROM OBLIVION
Payne Predicts Measure Will
Pass, but Others Call 1t
Useless Expense.

WASHINGTON, Dec 2S.-Impetus ia
the movement for permanent tariff
commission was given today by confer
ences at tho White House and the capi-
toI REPRESENTATIVE LonGworth of Ohio
returned to Washington with a full draft
Of q bill creating a commission. and
Chairman Payne Of the house committee
on ways and means announced that he
expected such legislation before March 4.
Following discussion with the Dresi-
dent over various features Of the lcgis-
lntive programme for this session, Mr.
Psyne announced he was sure a bill
Cor such a commission. acceptable TO
the president. would be put through the
senate and house before this session
ends.
Later, Mr.. Payne had a conference
with Chairman Emery OF the tariff
board regarding the personnel and sal
aries OF the proposed commission.
Mr.. Emery contendcd that the nature
OF the work and tile character OF the
men the commission would need made II
impossible to operate advantageously II
positions and salaries were rigidly fixed
by congress his idea being that these
should be fixed by the commission itself.
He suggested that industrial experts
might have to be engaged for varying
terms at various compcnsations.
Payne wants LlInlt MAGE.
Mr. Payne believes there should be a
legislative check to the aggregate eX-
penditures. but is said to agree as to
the necessity Of freedom OF action by
the commission as TO individual Items.
Mr.. Longworth,s bill contains Isl features 9
tor Bcverldge and Senator La Toilette
introduced al the last session OF con-
Gress. II also has some of the charac-
teristics OF the measures offered by
CongresSmen Goode of Iowa and Lenroot
of Wisconsin al this session: Mr., Long
worth's bill creates commission OF fve
members at $500 each. and not more
than three Of the same political party.
with offices in Washington.
The commission is given wide powers
OF collection and compilation OF facts,
without authority 20 make recommended
tons. and instead OF making fixed reports
it can only report on special call OF con-
gress or OF the president.
Its members arc To appear with oata
before the senate Ncommittee on finance
or the house committee on ways and
means. These arc the two committees
which have to do with tariff legislation.
Can Quiz Corporations.
Mr. Longworth's bill also authorizes the
commission TO require confidential data
from corporations as to any subject, but
must never disclose the source and must
especially safeguard II from competitive
interests
An important provision OF the Long
worth bill authorizes the commission 10
investigate the cost of production OF all
articles covered by the tariff with special
reference to the prices paid domestic and
foreign labor the prices paid for raw
materials whether domestic or imported,
the condition OF domestic and foreign
markets affecting American products, in
cluding detailed information of the cost
and of every element which in the COM
missiot's Judgment viii be helpful TO con-
gress in providing equitable rates OF duty.
One section re-enacts the maximum and
minimum clause of the Aldrich Payne
tariff law. Under the Longworth bill.
the five commissioners arc TO be appoint
cd by the president. a first for TWO. three,
four. FIVE and siN-year terms, respective
". but these teuures finally adjust them
selves to regular six Xyear terms for all.
The ways and means committee will
take up the commission question soon
after congress reconvcnes- Some OF its
members oppose the commission idea
holding that it puts into being another
body with high salaries and big general
expense accounts OH work that should be
done by the department OF commerce and
labor or by some other regular depart