Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-29
Impetus Given to Movement BY
Conferences at Both White
House and Capitol; Text Of
Measure Prepared,
BIPARTISAN BOARD OF
FIVE MEMBERS PROPOSED
Draft Prepared Embodies Fea-
lures Proposed By Senators
La Toilette and Beverldge and
Confers Wide Powers.

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased wircI
Washington, Dec. 2S.--Impetus to
the movement for permanent tariff
commission was given today by con-
ferenees at the White House and the
capitol. the return OF Representative
Longworth of Ohio, to Washington,
with fun draft Of bill creating a
commission, and by announcement OF
Chairman Payne of the house COM
mittee on ways and means. that he
expected such legislation before
March 4.
Following 3 discussion with the
president over various features of the
legislative program for this session,
Mr.. Payne announced he was sure a
bill for such commission, accept
able TO the president, would be put
through the senate and house before
this session ends.
Later, at Mr. Payne's Instance. he
had a conference with Chairman Em-
cry of the tariff board, regarding the
personnel and salaries Of the propos-
ed commission.
Mr.. Emery contended that the ma
ture of the work and the character
OF the men the commission would need
made II impossible TO operate advant-
ageously if positions and salaries were
rigidly fixed by congress, his idea be-
ing that these should be fixed by the
commission itself He suggested that
Industrial experts might have to be
engaged for varying terms at various
compensations.
Mr.. Payne believes there should be
q legislative check to the aggregate
expenditures, but is snid to agree as
to the necessity of freedom OF action
by the commission as 10 individual
items
Embodying features of the tariff
commission bills of Senators Bever-
idge of Indiana, and la Toilette of
Wisconsin, introduced at the last ses-
sion of congress. and of Congressman
Goode OF Iowa and Lenroot of Wis
consin introduced AZ this session, Mr.
Longworth who Is member OF the
ways and means committee, has
drawn bill which he expects to
introduce next week. 1t creates
commission of five members and at
81 500 each and not more than three
Of the same political party, with Of
fces in Washington, but empowered
to meet anywhere.
1t is given wide powers OF coIlec-
ton and collation. of facts. with au-
thority to make recommendations and
instead of making fixed reports It can
only report on special call of con-
gress or of the president. Its mem
bers are to appear with data before
the senate committee on finance or
the house committee on Ways aud
means. the two committees which
have to do with TARIFF legislation.
The commission is authorized to re-
quire confidential data from corpora
tions as to any subject, but must never
disclose the source and must espe-
cially safeguard it from competitive
interests
An important provision OF the
Longworth bin authorizes the COM
mission TO investigate the cost Of pro-
duction Of all articles covered by the
tariff with special reference TO the
prices paid domestic and foreign la"
Dor. the prices paid for raw materials
whether domestic or imported, the
condition OF the domestic and foreign
markets affecting the American pro-
ducts including detailed Information
,f the cost and OF every element,
which, I'm the commissions Judgment
viii be helpful to congress In provid-
Ing equitable rates OF duty.
one section re-enacts the maximum
,inuse OF the Aldrich- Payne tariff law.
Under the Longworth bill the five
are to be appointed by
he president at first for two. three,
our. five and six years terms. respec-
tvclv but these tenures adjust them
elves 10 regular six year terms for
H.
The ways and means committee VIII
AXE IN the commission question soon
.ftcr congress reconvenes. Some OF
Is members oppose the commission
den. holding that It puts into being
mother body with high salaries and
ig general expense accounts on work
hat should be done by the department
( commerce and labor OF by some
ther regular department.
s.---