The San Francisco call., 1910-12-04
emery IS SAID TO
SPEAK TAFTS VIEW
President Wants Middle West
to Hear What Board In
tends Doing
Inquiry Will Go to Very Root of
Industries and Costs of
Production
Continued From Page 20

to the study of those questions for a
quarter of century.
The tariff question Is one of business
and not of mathematical said Emory;
the problem of how far an industry
needs protection to keep it in sound
existence. or what the effect of its
decay would be. can not be settled by
any algebraic formula. None the less,
such material. when digested by i'm
partial men of common sense, who
know the conditions of competition in
each industry. and checked by the
knowledge of those-who have followed
an industry for a lifetime will furnish
a body of knowledge on which tariffs
can be made which will have the full
confidence of fair minded men,.
COERCIVE POWERS NOT NEEDED
Emory spoke of the great difficulties
involved, especially in getting aceu-
rate cost figures. in view of the fact
that in many lines the manufacturer
has not himself been able to figure out
his own costs accurately. and also in
view of the fact that figures of rela-
tive cost were not in themselves an
adequate basis for tariff judgments. He
frankly admitted that in the case of
some articles it would be either impos-
sible or unnecessary to attempt such
calculations.
Discussing the existing powers of
the tariff board to secure Attenuation.
Emory stated it to be the opinion of
the board that for an investigation of
this character, coercive powers to call
for books and examine witnesses un-
der oath were by no means essential
WANTS PLAIN STATEMENTS
Testimony given under coercioin."
he said. .t too likely to become un-
willing and half hearted. In most cases
more complete and illuminating infor-
nation can be secured by different
methods. The officials of European
governments who have accomplished
most in these lines have no such pow
ers and do not ask for them. Up to
date, however, the board has no reason
to doubt that they can secure the nee
essary information by present methods
After all. If the principle is once firm
ly established that protection. however
necessary. Is a favor and that the bur
den of proof is on the manufacturer to
show cause why 1t is granted. the
question of powers becomes relatively
unimportant."
On the question as to what use would
be made of such findings, Emery said
that whether the board should report
to the president or to congress the In
fuence of its investigation into facts
would come from the influence of unbi-
ased and unsuppressed truth to make
itself effective.
MUST PROCEED SLOWLY
Those who are skeptical of this re-
suit" he said, forget that where cer-
tain interests are concerned to sup
1fl1
whether from business or political
motives-wil be equally eager to give
1t the fullest publicity The trouble
in the past has been that the facts
have not been available. Once it is
known that they can be secured, they
are bound to have their effect on pub
lie opinion and so on public policy.
on the continuance of such impartial
studies year in and year out
Chairman Emery concluded by sum-
marizinG the various different attitudes
toward tariff revision. and protested
against the stand taken by those who
denounce congress for revising the
tariff in five months and yet demand
that a tariff board should be ready to
report on revision in the same length
of time.
NOTHING BUT FACTS WANTED
1t is both inconsistent and unfair,
he said. ito demand at one and the
same time that the tariff shall be re-
vised on the basis OF an impartial and
scientific investigation of the facts. and
yet be revised with ifnpulsive haste as
a political exigency. The two demands
are irreconcilable and you must choose
between them. So far as we are con-
eerned it does not matter which of these
various attitudes either you or the peo-
pie prefer. The president has given us
our task to find on the facts. and we
shall not depart from our resolve to re-
fuse to substitute for such facts half
formed guesses or opinions under or
ders or pressure from any man. any in
terest or any popular clamor."
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