Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-10
PUSH TARIFF COMMISSION
~ RESORT TO RULES
Good Seeks to Have Bill Taken From
Hands Of Committee Now Holding
Il in Pigeon HoIs-Wiil Force DEM
oerats 70 Como Out in opsn and
Show whsrs They stand.
Especial Correspondence

that body are bent on forcing the re-
speaker Of the power to name commit
tees to an issue, so they are bent in
forcing show of hands on the issue
Of having a tariff commission. They
do not want a mere tariff board, with
weak and questionable powers. They
want a permanent commission with ad-
equate powers specifically defined by
law.
Good Makes Move.
The first move in the direction OF
putting a tariff commission bill thru
the house has been made by Represen-
tative Good, of Iowa, one OF the pro-
gressive members of the house. Mr..
Good has filed a motion to discharge
the ways and means committee from
consideration of his bill for tariff
commission. The bill was introduced
last May "a. 1t has been lying calmly
and quietly on the shelf in the com
nittee over which Representative Sc
reno Payne presides ever since.
Now. Mr.. Good has set out to force
the bill out OF committee by appli-
cation Of the new house rule adopted
last June. This rule is intended to
facilitate the operation Of discharging
a committee from consideration OF bill
after IL has sat upon it a rea Sonable
length of time. Having filed his mo-
ton or resolution for discharge OF the
committee from consideration OF the
tariff commission bill he will he EMIT
led on the next suspension day to call
up his motion and have il disposed Of.
If majority OF the house membership.
not OF those present and voting but OF
the whole membership, sustain the mo-
ton to discharge the committee then
the bill will be before the house and
will have to be passed or defeated.
To Force tho Issue.
Conferences have been held among
insurgent leaders in an informal way.
They are In favor Of forcing the house
to take up the tariff commission ques-
ton II It can be done. They have a
certain strategical advantage in this.
that President Taft has come out in
his message for a strong and perma-
nent tariff commission. While the in
surgents feel free to fight or support
the administration according as they
think the administration is for pro-
gressive policies or not. there is no
doubt that a good many votes in the
house among the men classed as regu-
lar are inclined to go with the admin
istration.
Moreover. the insurgents are in an
aggressive frame Of mind and are more
bent on fighting than ever. They have
such advantage as comes from fight
on the offensive. They do not believe
the democrats can fight the plan OF
tariff commission without 3eopardizing
their hold on the country. Under the
circumstances, with the high tariff men
in the house bitterly against a COM
mission and with the democrats in
position where they are likely to in
lure themselves IL they fight the COM
mission plan, a nice situation is pre-
scented.
Wool Question Delayed.
Representative Good has been plan
ming to introduce a measure for revis-
ion of the wool schedule. but he has
concluded not to do it until the tarin
commission question is disposed OF. II
the house should pass tarin commits
sion bill and 1t should get thru the
senate, it would follow that the tarin
commission would be the body to take
up the wool schedule and report on 1t.
At least, argument can be found for
such a course and SO Mr.. Good is hold
ing of for the time being on the revis-
ion Of the wool duties.
Provisions Of Bill.
Nj. Goods bill for a tariff commits
sion provides for body of Ave men,
bers to be appointed by the president,
by and with the advice and consent OF
the senate. The commissioners are to
hold Office six years each. They are
to be selected without regard to politi-
cal affiliations. The qualifications OF
the members are carefully defined. Two
are to have special knowledge Of the
producing interests OF the country; one
is to be lawyer who has made spec
ial study Of the customs and tariff laws
Of the United States; one is to be fam
iiiar with the industrial and CONNER
cial conditions and the tariff laws Of
foreign countries: and one an econom-
list and statistician. who has given es-
pecial attention to prices and cost Of
production here and abroad on articles
affected by the customs and tariff laws.
The salary is $500. The duties Of the
commission are chiefly to investigate
the difference in cost of production here
and abroad, to sit with the ways and
means committee when requested while
II Is considering any OH anectln8 the
customs and also to sit with the SEN
ate committee on finance. It is required
to make a report OF its inquiries to con-
gress and to furnish the president any
Information he may require to assist in
the administration Of the customs or in
advising congress as to the state Of the
union. According to the bill, power Is
given the commission to examine wit
nesses under oath and to call for per-
sons and papers.
To Smoke Out the Democrats.
II the test is made squarely in the
house on this issue, it will be possible
to perceive pretty plainly what the
democratic policy with respect to the
tsri6 Is going to be. That IL. it will
develop whether the democrats are 60
ing to kick over the tariff board ana
the commission plan and have all that
appertains to revision done by the
ways and means committee.
ksepe In csntor 81 Read,
The Wise man treats his friends
Vot says the Philosopher Of Folly.
80