New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-04
Purely Business Question.


The tariff question is one of business.
and not Of mathematics he continued
The problem OF how far an industry needs
protection TO keep it in sound existence or
what the effect of its decay would be can
not be settled by any algebraic formula.
None the less. such material when digest
ed by impartial men of common sense,
who know the conditions of competition in
each industry. and checked by the knoWl-
edge Ct those who have followed an in
dustrv for lifetime. will furnish body
Of knowledge on which tariffs can be made
which Will have the full confidence Of far
minded men"
Mr.. Emery spoke Of the great difficulties
involved especially in getting accurate cost
figures in view Of the fact that IN many
lines OF business the manufacturer has not
been able TO figure cut his own costs accu-
ra+elv. and also in view of the fact that
figures Of relative cost we're not IN ther1-
selves an adequate basis for tariff juds-
nents He frankly acknowledged that IN
the case Of some articles It would be i'm
possible or unnecessary 10 attempt suCh
calculations
Discussing the powers Of the Tariff Board
10 obtain information. Mr. Emery said II
was the opinion Of the board that for an
Investigation OF this character coerciVe
movers 10 call for books and examine wit
nesses under oath were by no means es-
sertial
.eTesttraon- zi-en under coercion ne
said. is 100 likely to become UNWILLING anu
hale rear-ed. In most cases more complete
and Illuminating information can De
c,,red tv different methods. The cf1lcials
-l,o1 7a
p1ished most in these lines have no such
movers and do not ask for them Up 10
date however, the board has no reason to
doubt that they can secure the necessary
information hv present methods. After ALL
. a. ,,-t,cir,Ia * once firmly esta blished
that nro+ection. however necessary IS ia
zor End that the burden OF proof is on the
manufacturer to show cause why II IS
granted. the question OF powers UeO0--i''
relatively ,Iniuportsnt-
n, the question of what use would ne
-.a. cf such findings, Mr. Emery SAID
that vhether the board should report 10
IT. President or to Congress, the influence
IS. Investigation into facts would come
ION, +rA influence Of unbiased and unsuP-
,-eeead truth 10 make itself erectVF'
W. believe that such a body, ne sald'
=, closing his address. will render service
- Great value both 70 the executive anu
+bA legislative branches Of the government
T. matters little whether II Is called ou-
go = hoard or q commission II Is. no"
a,,er IF The utmost importance trS' i
-ho,,l5 he established on a permanent OASIS
- its members he appointed soley III
- csnaof+v efficiently TO deal Win eco
1t, Questions Of this nature without nlas
= -, Kind. and that its duties ana powers
---o,,1d ultimately be defined by law IN such
n make them independent OF the
III, NJ anv individual and free from
- t-euence or control Of any party
Has no Doubt Of Success
..,. .newer to the four questions 1 mag
=, m ask. We say that after carer u
| -.s.rs+ion of the difficulties we SUI an
80. .l,ern all with confidence in the alllflil
-. This Information is really essSn'iel
.horough understanding OF the Ques-
- . nil actually form basis lot d
- .,,s,-,en+ regarding tariff rates II can
- esc,,red in quite adequate measure ana
: - ;, the end have influence on pun
-. .-irion and so on public Poiicy' Su'
-, cannot be successfully carried OUT
.,,-,ass ,I,A public appreciates the ma M
-,,a undertaking, the limits WITHIN
,-bicl, II must be confined ths
-. ~. required and the fuulty Oh eA
pecting the Impossible .ou
There gre various attitudes -.
ard the problem o. tarin reVisi2 ,soa
IRE those who think that the oi rL.-,
- waking is all right as 1t Is Ihey
- o-1v as 70 the tariff Itself II tley
-, ;, :, they demand that the matter
he considered closed ana
cease. II they do not neleVe ~
cea-@' 81, demand prompt and radical
iiie -. .,,rording 10 the ideas they already
+;,a knowledge they already nave
Then there are those sIo~il - zn.,a-r'
~ far dealing with such intricate eco