Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-29

DI,AFl OF IA44z II
BOARD MEAk GE
Representative lougworth Ht<F n
rosite BiIl creating Commiss
Doyiynel rs Compromise
PAYNE PREDICTS QUICK ACT.
Chairman says he Expects Legisla-
tion Before March Four.
FIVE MEMBERS ARE PROVIDED
No Authority to Make Recommends
tions or Fix Reports.
FIVE MEMBERS ARE PROVIDED
JUICE KNAPP AND MAB1E AGREE
Recommendations VIII lie Made TO
Cnnadiau pud Americn" Govern
meats 20 Crrute International
halfway Commission.

movement Tor n permanent tariff com
mission was given today b5 conferences
at the W hite House and the capitol, the
return OF Representative Longworth OF
ohio to Washington with a fun draft OF
a bill creating a commission and the an
rcuncemcnt ot Chairman Payne OF the
house committee on ways ana means that
he expected such legislation before March .
Following a discussion with the presi-
dent over various features Of the legis-
lativc program for this session, Mr.. Payne
announced he was sure a bill for such
commission acceptable to both congress
and tho president would be put through
the senate and house before this session
ends Later. at Mr.. Payne's instance, he
had a conference with Chairman Emery
Of the tariff board. regarding the person
mel and salaries OF the proposed commis-
sion.
Mr. Emery contended that the nature OF
the work and the character or the men
the commission would need made 1t i'm
possible 10 operate advantageously II posi-
tlcns and salaries were rigidly fixed by
congress his idea being that these should
be fixed by the commission itself. lie
suggested that Industrial experts might
have to be engaged for varying terms at
various eompensations. Mr.. Payne believes
there should be a legislative check to the
aggregate expenditures, but is said to agree
TO the necessity Of freedom of action by
the commission as TO individual items
I.onRworth Has Composite BiIl.
Embodying features OF the tariff com
mission bills of senators Beveridge OF IN
diana and La Toilette OF Wisconsin In
troduced at the last session OF congress
and OF Congressman Goode of Iowa and
Ienroot of Wisconsin at this session. ano
following conferences with several repre-
sentatives before the holiday recess Mr.
Iongworth, who Is a member Of the ways
and means committee has drawn a bill
which he expects to introduce next week.
II creates a commission of five members
each 10 draw a salary OF $500, not more
than three OF the same political party, with
offices ct sWashington, but prepared 70
meet anywhere. n 70
The commission was given wide powers
Of collection and collation. Of facts without
authority 10 make recommendations, ana
instead of making fixed reports It can only
report on special call of congress or OF
the president. Its members are to appear
with data before the senate committee on
finance or the house and the COMMITTEES
on WAYS and means, the two committees
which have to do with tariff legislation.
The committee is Authorized to require
confidential data from corporations as to
any subject, but must never disclose the
source and must especially safeguard It
from competitive interests.
May Investigate Cost.
An important provision OF the Longwortn
bill Authorizes the commission 70 investi-
gate the cost OF production OF all articles
covered by the tariff with special refer
ence to the prices paid domestic and for
eign labor, the prices paid for raw ma
teriaIs, whether domestic or imported, en-
tering into the manufactured articles, the
condition OF the domestic and foreign mar
kets affecting the American products, in
cluding detailed Information Of the cost
and of every element, together with all
other facts which, in the commisson's s
judgment will be helpful TO congress in
providing equitable rates of duty on any
articles and in aiding the president and
other officials In administering the GUS
tom laws.
one section re-enacts the maximum and
minimum clause of the Aldrtch- Payne tariff
law Under the Iongworth bill, the five
commissioners are to be appointed by the
president at first for two three, four, five
and six year terms, respectively but these
tenures adjust themselves to regular six
year terms for all.
The ways and means committee will take
up the commission question soon after
congress re-convenes. Some Of its mem
bers oppose the commission idea, holding
that it puts into being another body with
high salaries and big general expense ae-
counts on work that should be done by the
department of commerce and labor or other
regular departments, and that all that is
necessary is to continue the existence OF
the present board through the Taft ad-
ministration.
international Railway Commission.
As a result Of conferences between Judge
Martin A. knapp. chairman OF the Inter
state Commerce commission and J. b.
Mabie chief OF the railway commission Of
canada, an agreement has been reached
TO recommend TO the respective govern
ments the creation Of an International
railway commission. which shall have
supervisory authority rates in operation
between the countries Mr.. Mabie reached
Washington from Ottawa last night in ac-
CordRnce with a previous arrangement
With chairman Knapp.
lie came to discuss the details of an
agreement they had reached last August
ard today the two officials were in confer
cucc. Their report has not been completed
but will soon be and will be filed with the
state department and with the foreign Of
flee of Canada.
No details are yet available beyond the
fact that It recommends the establish
mont Of an International commission upon
which shall be conferred certain defined
regulatory powers Whether the commis-
sion is 70 be created by treaty between the
two governments or by Joint legislation,
cannot now be announced.
Many Difficulties Presented.
Tor sometime % has been realized that
the Increasing railway traffic between the
United states and Canada was likely TO
render future control over rates difficult