New Ulm review., 1910-10-19
Official Paper of New Ulm.
The Tariff Commission.

Favored tarlH commission, nOn-pdr-
Gisan, with power to compel the testi-
mony of witnesses and report direct
to Congress, with the intent that Con-
gress may thus receive accurate infor-
nation upon which different tariff
schedules may be revised as necessity
dictates.
T. F. Ellsworth, in his platform,
makes a rather vague statement which
apparently is intended to cover the
same ground. In his speeches, Mr..
Ellsworth is attacking Hammond
because Hammond voted against the
so-called tariff commission in the last
session.
These are the facts relative to the
so-called commission. Section of
the obnoxious Payne-Aldrich law
authorized the President to employ
certain men to obtain information to
assist him in his duties of carrying
out the provisions Of the Payne-Al-
drich law. The duties of these men
were simply to ascertain whether other
countries were using unjust discrimi-
nations against the United States. If
they reported that such unjust discri-
minations existed, the President, under
the provisions of the Payne-Aldrich
act, was expected to apply the maxi
mum tariff rates against such cOun-
+nio ia riff
rates would be in effect against them.
t At the last session of Congress an
amendment was offered to the Civil
Sundry Appropriations Bill setting
aside $3.50, 100000 to be used by the
President in hiring men to obtain this
information for him. The original
amount set aside had been $4,000.
Hammond considered So 0,000 too
s large a sum to be used in educating
the President and voted against the
amendment. Because of this vote
Ellsworth is trying to create an i'm
preston that Hammond opposed a
tariff commission.
Now in point of fact there is no
tariff commission. There is provi-
sion for the President to employ GER
tain men to obtain information for
his own use. The purpose is not that
Congress may have information con-
3erning tariff conditions or that the
tariff may be subsequently, revised in
do, ho inf i0r
obtained. The appropriation was
proposed by Tawney. 1t was favored
by Cannon; and defended and engi
leered through the Senate by Aldrich
After its passage an effort was made
10 convey the impression that a tariff
Commission had been created.
Senator LaFollette's magazine
,nder date of July 30, 1910 says:
1.-THE tariff commission law is {
told brick. 1t creates a commission
Without powers and gives the specia
interests s25O,0O0 of the people,
money to carry on the campaign
,gainst scientific tariff making"
The Wisconsin State Republica
Convention in it's platform adopte
September %, 1910 makes this state
1ent:
"The present tariff board has n
oower of investigation and is not re
uired to report to Congress. W
avor the creation of a non-partisa
.ari commission empowered to a.
ertain the cost of production in thi
nd other countries and required
1ake frequent reports of the inform;
ion gained to Congress. Upon tt
attenuation so obtained Congress
hould proceed to revise the differel
chedules independently of each 9th,
ccordlng to the true protective tari
rincipals."
Common sense has taught US to
-- autious in hurrahing for measu
which Payne, Cannon and Aldrit
earthly approve. Mr.. Ellswor
iaims to be a Progressive Republica
he one issue that he is trying
ceate in his campaign is putting hi
de by side with the rankest stan
.- alters of both houses. 1t is true tn
ne vote for the appropriation
100000 was not vote on tariff col
lission. Opinions naturally M
onestly differ as to the advisable
making so large an appropriate
assist the President. The fact th
srtain representatives and senate
oted for or against this appropri
on has nothing to do with tht
sews relative to real bona fide tar
ammission. Nothing could me
,atify the interests than that Il
gold brick" should be accepted q.
al commission. It does not SOU,
th Hammond's s platform; it does