Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-29
BILL HAS BEEN DRAFTED
Work of Representative Long
worth Embodies the Ideas Of
Senators Beveridge, La
Toilette and Others.


House and at the capitol, the return Of
Longworth of ohio to
Washington with n full draft Of a bill
creating commission, and announce
ment by Chairman Payne Of the House
committee on ways and means that he
expected such legislation before March
t. next. Following Il discussion with the
President over various features Of the
Legislative program for this season. Mr..
Payne announced that ne was quite sure
a bill for a permanent tariff commission
acceptable to both Congress and the
President would be put through the
Senate and House before the session ends.
when democratic control of the House
begins.
Later at Mr. Payne's instance. he had
a conference with Chairman Henry G.
Emery Of the tariff board at which Mr..
Payne asked Mr.. cmcry's ideas as to
the personnel and salaries Of the pro-
posed commission Mr.. Emery contended
that the nature Of the work and the
character OF the men the commission
would need made 1t impossible to oper-
ate advantageously If positions and sal
ares of the commissioners staff were
rigidiy fixed by Congress. His idea was
that these should he fixed by the COM
mission Itself. He suggested that in
dustrial experts might have to be en-
gagged for varying terms at various COM
pensations. Mr.. Payne believes there
should be a legislative check to the ag-
Sregate expenditures, but Is said to agree
as to the necessity of freedom of action
by the commission as to individual items
LONGWORTH DRAFTS IDEAS.
Embodying features Of the tariff COM
mission bills of Senator'S Beveridgc and
La Toilette. introduced at the last ses-
sion OF Congress, and of congressman
Goode OF Iowa and Lenroot of Wiscon-
sin at this session. and following confer
ences with a number OF representatives
before the holiday recess a bill has been
drawn by Mr.. Longworth, who is a MEM
ber of the ways and means committee.
which he expects to introduce next week
He will have further conferences with his
colleagues before introducing the meas
ure.
II creates a commission of five mem
bers, salaried at $500 each not more
than three OF the same political party
with offices at Washington, but empow-
cred to meet anywhere. 1t is give% wide
powers of collection and collation. Of
lacts, without authority to make recon-
mendatons and Instead Of making fixed
reports, it can only report on special call
OF Congress or of the Presdent\ Its
members. however. are to aopear with
Data before the Senate committee on
iinance or the House committee on wavs
ana means or the two committees which
IN yr-itL
request Ihe commission is authorized
10 require confidential data from cor
po'at'ons as to any certain subject but
must never disclose the source o. such
data and must especially safeguard such
uata from competitive interests
BILL DEFINES SCOPE.
An important provision NJ tho ror,
worth bill is section deonir, &C.
scope Of Investigation. II ou,hor,
''.' commission 20 investigate the cost
or production Of all articles coyo-od
ny 'he tarlT. with special reference 20
the prices paid domestic and foreign
lahor; the prices paid for raw mater
'als. whether domestic or imported on
tertns into the manufactured articles
the condition OF the domestic and for
eign markets affecting the American
products. including detailed infor,na.
ton Of the cost and of every element
together WITH all other facts which in
the COMMISSIONS Judgment Will, bo
helpful 10 Congress in orovidin,
equitable rates of duty on any arti-
| cles and in aiding the President and
other officials in administering tho
customs laws
one section rc-enacts thc maximum
! and minimum clause OF the Aldrich-
PAYNE tarir law. Under the 10 e.
worth bill the five comm ss toner's are
to be appointed by the President at
| first for two. three. four five and six
year terms respectively but these ten
ures adjust themselves to regular six
year terms for all.
The ways and means committee will
take up the commission question very
soon after Congress reconvenes. Some
| Of It's members oppose the commission
idea. holding that 1t puts into being
another hcdy with high salaries and
rig general expense accounts on work
that should be dane by the department.
Of commerce and labor or other regu-
lar departments and that all that Is
necessary is to appropriate to continue
the present board through the Taft
| administration.