Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-05-20
TARIFF BOARD
STEAMBOAT TOOL
THE ORGANIZATION MEASURE Is
MEANT TO BE A MIsLEAD-
ING ONE.
PR0GREssIvEs WILL FIGHT
Bill as Reported Gives Commission
No Practical PoWer-Senator
Rourne's Sensational Speech
on the Subject of Popular
Government.

the committee on appropriations gave
out statement in regard to the $780,
900 appropriation carried In the sun
dry civil bill which is entirely mis-
leading as to the character Of the au-
thority conferred upon the tariff
board. 1t is designed to carry to the
country the impression that under the
legislation provided for in connection
with the appropriation item au-
thority is conferred granting all OF the
power which could be granted on
legislation attached to an appropr1a-
ton bill
Under the authority granted, the
present tariff board may employ spe-
cial agents to investigate the cost OF
production at home and abroad and
also inquire into any other conditions
and to secure any other information
which may be of benefit to congress
in the consideration of tariff leg1sla-
ton, or be an aid to the president IN
the administration of the tariff laws
This looks fair upon its face. 1t
was intended to be fair upon its face.
1t was intended to sound big and to
NC iupOlSut So ldI DIS p0A1OA AAonOS AZ
concerned
Real Truth of the Matter.
Chairman Tawney calls attention to
the fact that legislation of this char
acter will be subject to point of or
der upon an appropriation bill. For
this reason he says it wasn't possible
to make this legislation wider in
scope, but that when the bill goes to
the senate it may be there widened
out and there they may put on real
tariff commission. Such a statement
is partly true, but Is wholly m1slead-
ing It is true that the legislation
would be subject to a point of order.
1t Is not true that it can be widened
out in the senate. 1t is subject to the
same point Of order in the senate that
1t is in the house. At the present time
while a point of order will be made
in the house, If the committee had re-
ported an adequate tariff commission
provision, there Is no question but
that a majority of the house would
vote to sustain the committee and en-
act the law. Under the control of the
Aldrich machine in the senate, it is
not possible to put through tariff
commission law in that body, and no
one Is better aware Of this fact than
is Mr.. Tawney.
Under the bill as reported the tariff
board will not have power to summon
witnesses or compel the submission
of papers, or to hold public hearings
at which all sides % a controversy
may be heard, and therefore 1t will
not have the power to conduct investi-
cations that will be Of any practical
value to congress. It's Investigations
will be secret. 1t will only hear one
side, and the result will be that it will
secure a mass of information or mis-
information which might be urged
upon the country as fair reasons not
only for the maintenance of the pres
ent exorbitant schedules. That such
ent exorbitant schedules, but to in
the intention of any such investiga-
ton is clearly indicated in the line of
speeches which the standpat organiza-
ton are to have delivered over the
country in the coming campaign. Vice
President Sherman in his recent st.
Louis speech pointed the way when
he indicated that the country must be
prepared not only to accept the pres
ent high schedules, but that the SEIZED
ules may be raised still higher.
What the Result Will Be.
1t can be easily conjectured that
with a corps of experts selected by
such an astute politician as Frank
Hitchcock, that just that kind of in
formation which will be useful to
those who have special interest in
view would be secured
The Progressives will support the
appropriation for $250,0OO, but they
will make fight to give to the coun-
try real tariff commission. There is
not much hope that this can be done,
but they can at least put the respon-
sibility of this legislation where 1t be-
longs. They can expose the fake and
that will accomplish something.
Hourne's Remarkable Speech.
Senator Jonathan Z. Bourne of
Oregon delivered a remarkable
speech upon the subject of popu-
lar government, the sensational fea-
ture of which, calling attention to
the actions of Ormsby McHarg under
the direction of Postmaster General
Hitchcock to defeat the will of the
people of Oregon in the selection of
United States senators, has attracted
some attention, but the real ground
work of which has received but little
consideration in the press reports.
Mr.. Bourne contended that the es-
tablishment of popular government in
the place of delegated government is
the remedy for the existing condition
of unrest throughout the country. He
asserted that the present unrest is due
to lack of confidence on the part of
the people in their public servants,
and bitter resentment against politi-
cal dictatorship, and declared that
adoption of laws such as are in force
in Oregon, the initiative and referen-
dunn, direct primary, direct selection