Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-06
TARIFF BOARD.

| o. &. . q . . .
The time in which the tariff was pre-
pared undoubtedly was so short as to
make 1t impossible for the Congress
and It's experts to acquire the nrormu-
ton necessary strictly to conform to
the declared measure. In order TO avoid
criticism of this kind in the future aud
for the purpose of more nearly conforms
ing tn the party promise. Congress at
its last session made provision. at my
request FOR the continuance of a board
created under the authority, pf the max
imum and minimum clause of the tariff
Dill. and authorized thiS board to cX-
pend the money appropriated under my
direction for the ascertainncnt OF the
cost of production at home and abroad
of tho various articles included in the
schedules of tho tariff. The tariff board
thus appropriated for and authorized
has been diligent in preparing itself for
the necessary Investigations Tho hope
of thoae who have advocated the use
OF this board for tariff purposes is that
the question Of a rate duty imposed
shall become moro Of n business question
and less OLA political question to be as
certained bSEeXperts of training and ac-
curate knowledge. Tho halt in business
and the shock to business, due tn the
announcements, that n new tariff bill is
to be prclmrcd.a md put into operation
Will be avoided ,iJy treating the sched-
FulcS one by ono as occasion shall
arise for a. change In the rates OF each.
and only after report upon the scl,od-
ule by the tariff board competent TO
make such report, 1t Is not likely the
board will be able to make a. report
during the present session OF Congress,
on any OF the schedules because n pro-
per examination needs n great deal Of
work and lcare.pbut / hope to. be able
TO say at the opening of the next Con-
Eress. or1at.,lcastj during tho session or
that Congress to bring to itssattcntion
those schedules In the present tariff
that may need amendment The carry
v9lres limiting the consideration in
Ing out of this plan Of course In
tariff matters to one schedule at II time,
but If a. proposed amendment to a.
tariff bill Is to Involve n complete re-
vision of all the schedules and another
revision, then we shall only repeat tho
evil from which the business of this
country has in times past suffered most
gricvously by stagnntlon and uncertain
ty, pending settlement Of u law ar
fecting AL business directly or indI-
rectly. and tho effect of which no Wise
business, man would ignore in new
projects and new Investments. can-
not too much emphasize the Importance
and benefit of the plan above proposed
for the treatment OF the tariff. it ia
>'''''.'' NV 'N'''SNb' VI uolcWOEIIlS Ia-
fects In m Important law without n
disturbance. of business prosperity
which is even more important
to the happiness and the com
fort of the people than the elimination
of instances OF Injustice In tho tariff, 4
INQUIRIES IN BOARD.
The inquiries which the members of
The tariff board made during the last
summer into tho methods pursued by
other governments with reference TO tito
liking OF tariffs and tho discrimination
OF their effect upon trade, show that
each government maintains an Office or
bureau. the employees OF which have
made their lifework the study Of tariff
matters. OF foreign and home prices and
effect OF tho tariff upon trade, so that
whenever n change is deemed 10 b.
necessary In the tariff law, this Office
Is tho source Of tho most reliable infor.
nation as to tho propriety of
the exchange and It's effect
] am strongly convinced that
wo need just such an office and tbnt
we can have II by making tho tariff
board Just created. a tariff commission
With sicf power as It may seem wise
to Congress ia give, II has been BRO.
posed to enlarge the board from thrre
70 nvc. The present number Is con-
Nenient. but ! do not know that an n.
crease Of two members would be Oh
jectionable !SH
S Whether or not the protection policy
Is TO be continued and tho degree OF