The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18

Declaring in favor of the establish
ment of revision OF the tariff by sub
Jects and for the creation of a perma-
ment nonpartisan tariff commission,
Senator Lodge. OF Massachusetts. whose
tariff record is being assailed by Gov
elect Foss of that State. addressed the
Senate yesterday.
L am a thorough protectionist,' de-
ciared Senator Lodge, in defining his
tariff position. Il believe in this policy
now as firmly as 7 ever did in my life
In my opinion dtsinterested investiga-
ton of the tariff by any honest board
that goes thoroughly into the difference
In the cost of production al home and
abroad viii sustain the policy of pro
lection. II such an Investigation would
not sustain the policy OF protection
then II does not deserve to stand If it
should be shown that duties are TOO
high then they should be reduced"
Inc Massachusetts Senator said he Is
IN accord with the President in his rec
ommendation for revision of the tariff
py subjects. Revision by schedule he
said. he would oppose. The Senator said
ne was IN sympathy with the object Of
the Cummins resolution for limiting the
right OF amendment. though he differed
as 10 the manner in which the rule should
De changed He expressed the opinion
that the object could he accomplished in
SIMPLER manner. Inflammation 10 the
right OF amendment. the senator declared
would enable the majority 10 amend Ger,
tain schedules without opening I'D the
entire question. in which 900 schedules
ere Involved
Wants Tari6 Commission.
I spoke in the campaign in favor Of
a tariff commission" continued Senator
Lodge. I would like 10 see a nonparti-
san commission OF experts, small in num-
Der. inteiligently give US the difference
IN the cost Of production at home and
abroad, which is the basis OF ALI wise
tarin legislation. Ii is utterly impossible
for body OF men, wise as are some of
the members Of Congress with regard IN
the tariff, to master all of these Srh-
Jects within year or a period of a few
months.
Committees Of Congress NAV bring
IN authority for changes that they think
should be made in tariff schedules, but
ihey don't carry conviction as would
an independent and nonpartisan com
mission The facts cannot be obtained
IN TINS way so as to carry conviction
10 Congress, much less t. the country
The most that a committee of Con
gress can do is 10 examine those who
represent special interests, the i'm
pOrters. and those who want free raw
materials From these sources much
valuable information is obtained, but il
Is impossible TO CissOciate Information
from those sources from that Of selfish
interest. This very situation brings
about crying need for some inde-
pendent board OF experts. who can get
a. the difference in the cost or produc-
lion at home and abroad. 10 present TO
Congress the facts without bias. The
foreign countries are very thorough in
framing their tariff laws. and we can
do we'll 10 follow them in this respect
N q tariff board could investigate and
report on one schedule at a time. Con-
gress could deal with them as they
come along
Senator Lodge, in speaking OF the fact
that he mad taken part in the framing OF
hVe tariff bills during his service in Con-
gress, said these revisions had done great
injury to the business interests OF the
country.
These tariff revisions not only injure
business" commented Senator Lodge.
but they are rginous to the political
parties that undertake them"
The Senator showed how every tariff
bin since lSS mad brought about the de-
feat of the party responsible, with the
exception of tho Dingley act He express
Cd the opinion that the war with Spain
saved the REPUBLICAN party in the follow
ing election, which controlled the House
by reduced majority.
Blames Revision for PanieS.
In u period OF six years there war,
three revisions Of the tariT," said Sena-
tor Lodge. These rapid revisions shook !
the entire industrial fabric OF the coun- /
try. Business was Iaralyzed. Then came
the Dingley law and tariff stability.
Then, as We all know. we had another /
revision, with the usual result TO the
party that undertook it, The time will !
come when We will no longer lag behind |
the countries OF the world in framing /
revenue laws. / don't care which party
is I'm power; il is important 10 avoid
rapid repettions Of tariff revisions"
Senator Hepburn. OF Idaho. a pro- !