Norwich bulletin., 1910-12-07

the authority of the maximum and min imum clause of the tariff and author ized this board to expend the money appropriated under my direction for the entertainment of the cost of pro duction at home and abroad of the va rious articles included in the schedules of the tariff The tariff board thus appointed and authorized has been dili- gent in preparing Itself for the neces- sary investigations.
 The hope of those who have advocat- ed the use of this board for tariff pur- poses is that the question of the rate of duty imposed shall become more of a business question and less of political question, to be ascertained by experts of long training and accurate knowledge. The halt in business and the shock to business due to the an- nouncement that new tariff bill is to be prepared and put in operation will be avoided by treating the schedules one by one as occasion shall arise for a change in the rates of each and only after report upon the schedule by
 
 such report.
 It is not likely that the board will be able to make report during the pres ent session of congress on any of the schedules, because a proper examina- ton involves an enormous amount of detail and 8 great deal of care, but hope to be able at the opening of the new congress, or at least during the session of that congress, to bring to it's attention the facts in regard to those schedules in the present tariff that may prove to need amendment
 The carrying out of this plan, Of course, involves the full cooperation of congress in limiting the constdera- tion in tariff matters to one schedule at time, because if proposed amend nent to a tariff bill is to involve 8 complete consideration of all the schedules and another revision then we shall only repeat the evil from which the business of this country has in times past suffered most grisvously by stagnation and uncertainty, pend ing a resetflement of a law affecting all business directly or indirectly. and bAS CLiC(t O& NutIn lV WkSS Oli5iACSS man would ignore in new projects and new investments.
 l cannot too much emphasize the importance and benefit of the plan above proposed for the treatment Of the tariff. It facilitates the removal of noteworthy defects in an important law without disturbance of business rroCra1i+w xr-hiab 1S ara~, u,ara ;ye1por tant to the happiness and the comfort of the people than the elixnination Of instances of injustice in the tariff
 The inquiries which the members of the tariff board made during the last summer into the methods pursued by other governments with reference to the fixing of eariffs and the determina- tion Of their effect upon trade show that each government maintains an Of fee or bureau the officers and em- ployees of which have made their life work the study of tarfff matters, of foreign and home prices and cost of articles imported and the effect of the tariff upon trade, so that whenever g change is thought to be necessary Ii, the tariff law this office is the sourca of the most reliabl information as to the propriety of the change and it's effect
 I am strongly convinced that we need in this government just such an office aud that it can be secured by making the tariff board already ap- pointed permanent tariff conmis, sion, with such duties, powers and ennofuments as it may seem wise to congress to give. It has been pro- posed to enlarge the board from three to five. The present number is con- ventent, but do not know that an in- crease of two members would be oEl- iectionable.
 Whether CT net the protective policy is to be continued and the degree of protection to be accorded to our home industries are questions which the peo- pie must decide through their chosen representatives but whatever policy is adopted 1t is clear that the necessary legislation should be based on an i'm partial, thorough and continuous study of the facts.