The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
 AMERICAN TARIFF Committee Has Already Begun
 Work of Compilation SEEKING INFORMATION
Glossary Is Being Designed for the Purpose of Acquainting officials and People With Cost of
 Manufacture for Export

Washington, April 2.-(special,)-one of the most far-reachng and expressing subjects which this administration will attempt to bring about during the course of the present fiscal year is a complete glossary, or encyclopedia, of the Amer ican tariff It will include within its scope an investigation of all the large industries of the United States engaged in export trade with foreign countries, and to perhaps larger extent, the en- tire manufacture of articles of trade com ing into this country. The purpose of this important work is to acquaint Con gress, the President and the people of the United States generally with the, cost of manufacture of articles of export so that the legislators, executives and the people may have complete and intelli- gent idea of the valuations of articles of commerce and industry.
 Heretofore Congress and the President, in endeavoring to work out tariff just and equitable for the United States In comparison to like rates existing in other countries, have undertaken d job which, to say the least, has been one they did not fully understand. In other words, experts of the government in this line sey they have been dealing with sub- ject which the majority knew very little about Several hundred lawmakers from various parts of the country in deter mining tariff rates for the United States. are, only familiar with the conditions that obtain in their respective communi- ties. The result is that when a tariff bill has been completed, great dissatis- faction has been apparent in one section. of the country or another. Should glos- sary be compiled showing the cost of manufacture of articles of export, it is pointed out that all lawmakers who are interested can be made fully acquainted with conditions obtaining in the United States at once, and after due considera- ton can handle their subject with in telligence.
 Work on this glossary or encyclopedia has already been commenced by mem bers of the tariff board, which is com posed of A. H. Sanders, H. c. Emery and J. B. Reynolds. The plan on which the work will proceed has been mapped out and it's general scope provided for
 To make this encyclopedia a success from the start the hearty cooperation of iCongress has been sought and accord ing to the advices of high government official, Congress will not refuse it. It is proposed by President Taft to ask Con gross for an appropriation of $250,0oo for this purpose. Should this sum become available the force of the tariff board will be greatly enlarged, additional clerks will be asked for and special examiners and statisticians employed. Of the latter class. men especially fitted to carry on this work will be appointed. If possible, professors of economies of universities, or others whose calling has made them familiar with the collection of such data as the board may wish to obtain, will be given the preference. Other quarters will be obtained. as it Is considered that the offices now occupied in the treasury building are inadequate.
 When the work is well on it's way and the Initial appropriation obtained from Congress appointments to the new branch of the government service will be made by the tariff members themselves. irrespective, 1t is said, of congressional influence. The obpject is to obtain men unbiased politically, who will send abso- lutely correct reports of their research so that positive statements can be made and the glossary be rated as a standard work. These men will be high-class. ex- perts and will be employed by the tariff members at different times They will be assigned to some particular work, and when that is finished, to another. The places will not be permanent, however They will also have rowing commissions, being sent from one part of the country
  thought take longer than six months to complete
 In summing up the number of indus trial articles of export which will be sub iected to this research of valuation and cost 1t is estimated that there are apout 60OC or 1000 now listed in the Payne-Al- drich tariff schedule book. These are put into 71s "numbers' and are classified ac- cordine to the duty required at the port of entry. Of this number 4S1 numbers are on the dutiable list, representing about 6500 articles of commerce upon which Uncle Sam requires duty; z5i numbers" are on the free list and rep resent the classification of articles which were formerly taxed under the Dingiey tariff but are not now required to pay duty.
 For the purpose of starting this work of recording the various articles of ex- port in a systematic manner the tariH board members have elected to take up the question of investigation of articles in accordance with the way In Wnlcn they are grouped under the Payne-Aldrich tariff schedule. Thus, for instance, pain.s oils and materials of this character VIII sfrst be investigated and the cost of their nroduction ascertained. In this way 1t IS believed the work will progress in sys- tematic way.
 Illustrations of the instances in which tariff legislation has been openly crlticiseu was pointed out in the case of the Wilson bill. which President Cleveland refused to sign. the Mckinley bill, and lately the much discussed Dingley bill. The Payne Aldrich bill, while admittedly bad In a number of ways. Is regarded by the tariH board members in the same light as uoes Pres,dent Taft-while it may be bad Tn nart it Is the best tariff measure that has heen passed by Congress in a long time
 It Is hoped, however. that by the time Congress wishes to revise the present tariff. either downward or upward much statistical matter will have been gathered by the examiners and special asenrs ol tta tsr,cr hoard. so that Congress will be y,ateriaIlv aided in fixing a future tarin rate should occasion demand.