The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-30

WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

"The members of the national tar
if commission association throughout
the country are bringing their influ-
ence to bear on the congressional
candidates in their districts to obtain
their promises that they will vote for
legislation designed to perpetuate
the tariff board" said Henry r.
Towne of New York. Mr.. Towne had
just returned from conference with
the members of the board at the
treasury department. AS treasurer
and member Of the board of directors
of the association formed to encour-
age the establishment Of tariff
commission. he is greatly interested
in the work of the recently establish
ed board.
The efforts of our members in this
direction are meeting with little re-
sistance," continued Mr.. Towne. CAL
most all of the state platforms Of
both parties have declared in favor
of the tariff board, and most of the
congressional district conventions
have given the plan advocated by
President Taft: and put into opera
tion by congress at his request, their
ooo0
reason to believe that the present
system of investigating the cost Of
production at home and abroad will
be perpetuated by congress, whatever
the political complexion of that body
may be during the years to come.
There is every reason why the rep
resentatives of the people in the SEN
ate and house should make it posi-
BILE for the tariff board to continue
it's work. The functions of the tariff
board are absolutely outside the do
main of politics. The board is obtain
ing information bearing upon the
tariff in a scientific, impartial, and
accurate manner. The methods en-
ployed by it are Numerically oppo-
site to the inaccurate and log-rolling
process employed by political body
made up of two opposing factions.
For the first time in the history of
the country we are in position to
ascertain the facts that should gov
ern the establishment Of tariff rates
from a source unquestionably nom
partisan. Some of the nations of Eu-
rope have employed the method which
we have just adopted for thirty years,
and have achieved remarkable results.
1.-THE tariff board, although not a
commission such as has been asked
by the commercial organizations of
the country, is. in effect commits
sion. The extent of its usefulness
will depend altogether on the willing
ness of congress to accept its find
ings and act in accordance with them
in the framing of tariff laws. The
board has not the power to subpoena
witnesses. 1t has no mandatory
functions whatever. 1t merely is
empowered to investigate in every
way possible and to act as the chan
mel for the conveyance of information
to the president, and. through him, to
congress The acceptance of the tar
iff boards work by congress, course
, which we confidently believe will be
the rule and not the exception, will
give the board practically the inf1u-
ence of a commission.
81 can speak for the board when
say that the members of 1t do not
care for more authority. The an
nounced willingness of the manufac-
turers of the country to give every
possible bit of information that will
be of benefit has made it unnecessary
for the board to ask for greater pow
er. The national tariff commission
association is composed Of seventy
two large organizations Throughout
the country. These consist of cham
beers of commerce. industrial associa.
tions, and all sorts Of organizations
of business men. The members o
these bodies are heartily in sympath!
with the work of the board, and the.
will do all in their power to facilitate
its work. We are convinced that thu
board has made splendid beginning
and we know that its members art
proceeding along sound. sensible
lines in their effort to secure the In
formation desired by the presiden
for the guidance of congress"
A circus man wins by sheer impu
dence. He claims to have two head.
ed lady who sings beautiful duet
he claims to have a horse with iti