The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-07
Tariff
Board.

The time in which the tariff was
prepared undoubtedly was so short as
to make &c impossible for the Congress
and its experts TO acquire the informa-
ton necessary strictly TO CONFORM TO
the declared measure. In order 10
avoid criticism Of this kind in the fu-
ture and FOR the purpose Of more nearly
conforming to the party promise, Con-
gress at its last session made pro-
vision at my request TOT tne cohtiI NJ
anCe Of "a board created under the au-
thority Of the maximum and minimum
clause Of the tariff bill. and authorized
this board to eXpend the money ap-
propriated. under my direction, for the
ascertainment Of the cost Of produc-
tion at home and abroad OF the various
ARTICLES included IN the scheoules OF tne
tariff. The tariff board thus appropri-
ated and authorized has been 'deligent
i'm preparing itself FOR the necessary
Investigations. The hope Of those who
have advocated the use OF this board
for tariff purposes is that the question
OF rate duty imposed shall become
more OF business question: anu Aee9
OF political question, 20 be ascer-
tained by experts of training and ac-
Curate knowledge. The halt in bust
ness and the shock to business, due to
the announcement that a new tariff bill
is TO be prepared and put into opera
ton viii be avoided by treating the
schedules one by one as occasion shall
/ arise for a change in the rates Of each,
and only after a report upon the sched-
ule by the tariff board competent to
make such report. lt Is not likely the
board will be able to make "A report
during the present session OF Congress
on any OF the schedules because
proper examination needs a great deal
Of work and care. but I hope to be
able TO say al the opening OF Congress
or at least during the session OF that
Congress. to bring to its attention
those schedules in the present tariff
/ that may need amendment. The car
| rying out Of this plan. Of course, in
wolves the full corporation IN limit
/ ing the consideration in tariff matters
I at one schedule at a time. but IL "A pro-
posed amendment TO a tariff bill is TO
involve a complete condition OF all the
schedules and another revision. then
we shall only repeat the evil from
which the business OF this country has
/ in time past suffered most previously
I by staEnation and uncertainty. pending
/ a settlement Of a law affecting all
] business, directly or indirectly. and the
I effect OF which no wise business man
would ignore in new projects and new
! investments. ] cannot too much en-
phasize the Importance and benefit OF
the plan above proposed Tor the treat
/ ment OF the tariff. II facilitates the
/ removal OF noteworthy defects in an
important law without a disturbance Of
! business prosperity which IS even more
/ important to the happiness and the
/ comfort OF the people than the elimi-
nation Of Instances OF injustice in the
The Inquiries which the members OF
the tariff board made during the last
I summer into the methods pursued by
other governments with reference 20
the fixing OF tariff and the determi
nation 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. the effect OF the tariff
upon trade. so that whenever
there Is change to be neces-
sarv IN the tariff law this office Il
the source Of the most reliable infor
I nation as TO the prOpriety OF the cN
change and its effect. I am strongly
convinced that we need just such ar
Office. and that we can have IL ba
making the tariff board just created
tariff commission with such power a.
it may seem wise for Congress 20 give
I 1t has been proposed to enlarge ths
board from three to five The presen