Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-27
QUESTION PERSISTS IN HoBRINc
UP TO BOTHER sTANDPAT
CONGRESS.
CREATION OF TARIFF BOARD
TO FORCE ISSUE TO FRONT
Old Republican Leaders Hope to Be
Able to "Pack" Board and Thus Pre-
vent Report That Will Call For Re.
vision and Thus Nuliify Law-othsr
News.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, May 27.-That it is go
ing to be impossible to keep the tariff
question down in congress for any con-
siderable length of time is quite clear
from the developments which have
come about since the passage of the
tariff law and which are coming about
in congress.
For about twelve years. the republic
can leadership in congress fought off
a revision Of the tariff after the enact
ment Of the Dingley law. Now, it looks
as if they would be fortunate if they
fought it off for quarter Of that
period.
The republican leaders have been
forced into the position of promising
that if on investigation by the tariff
board or tariff commission it is shown
that some schedules are wrong, they
will stand for correction Of the wrongs.
President Taft is on record to that ef-
feet. In the house speeches on the
adoption of the Tawney amendments to
the sundry civil bill, this is the posi-
ton taken by a\number of the lead
ers. In all likelihood, speeches of the
same tenor will be heard from some
Of the senate leaders. The result in the
end is certain to be to commit the party
pretty definitely to revision of those
schedules which an inquiry by tariff
board or commission shows ought to be
lowered The chances are that the
promises which are being made now on
this question will arise in two or three
years to give more or less worry to
those that made them, unless they set
about to see that they are carried into
effect.
Hope to Pack tho Board.
In case tariff board should investi-
gate and find every schedule as it ought
to be, of course. it would be easy to
steer clear of revision. and there is
strong suspicion in the minds of the
insurgents in the house and senate that
the regular leaders in the house and
senate. ali of whom are high protec-
tionists, intend If they can to bring
about an enlargement of the existing
tariff board. in order that they may
put high tariff men into the places thus
created. If the high tariff forces could
devise some way of capturing the tar
lift board, they would be in position to
have data furnished which would be
more or less to their liking. But the
present board is not a high tariff body.
On lNe IL HdS oGSi iOeAAA0AS
condemned in high tariff quarters as
having strong free trade leanings. Pro
fessor Emery, chairman of the board, is
looked on with peculiar suspicion by
the high protectionists.
If the present board Is put IN posi-
ton where it can make an impartial
of the cost of production
and Of the workings of schedules 1t will
be quite likely to set forth the facts
favoring any one. The tariff
revisionists in the house and senate are
confident that any such inquiry can
lead to only one result, disclosure
that revision OF certain schedules ought
10 be had. Then will come up the
question whether the promises of re-
vision if schedules are shown to need
revision are to be kept.
Little Is Hoped For.
Not much indication is given that
put of the discussion Of the question
Of giving specific and enlarged powers
to the tariff board there will come a
real tariff commission such as is want
ed by the advocates of such a body.
The provision which the house has
adopted as an amendment to the sun
dry civil bill is admittedly far from a
tariff commission provision. In effect,
It gives the president power to name
certain experts to assist in the admin
strat ton Of the tariff law and investi-
gate the cost of production. The in
formation obtained will be available
for congress. But the language used
IS hazy and general and when the in
is obtained and is in the
hands Of congress it will be open to the |
question of just how reliable it is. If
the facts given do not suit the revis- |
onists or the opponents Of revision,
they will be, in all probability, at
lacked. At least this is one Of the en-
predicted in some quar-
ers for any tariff board that may exis:
1nder the language which will go into |
the sundry civil bill.
Insurgent senators will make a fight |
or a strong tariff commission and pro-
less to have hope of winning. Such a |
light would have been made in the |
house had not one Of the Tawney
been held In order and
adopted.