The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-23

Boutell Urges That Tariff be Re-
moved From Realm Of Par
tisan Politics
AGAINST TARIFF COMMISSION
Declares Information Should be Gath
cred by Departments of Govern
mcnt and Only Necessary ~
Amendments Made.

Detroit, Mich, May 23.-RemoVal OF
the tariff from the domain of partisan
politics was urged today by Represent
ative Henry S. Boutell ina speech de-
livercd here today at a luncheon given
at the Bankers Club.
Mr.. Boutell spoke in support of the
item i'm the Sundry Civil Appropria-
ton Bill appropriating $25O,OO0 for Sc
curing information bearing upon the
tariff and outlined the change In the
Parliamentary procedure in Congress
that must be made by joint rule be
fore it win be possible to make specl-
fic changes.in the tariff.
Every one must concede" said Mr..
Boutell, that. judged solely as a rev.
enue increase, the Payne Tariff Act,
has justified the opinion of President
Taft that 1t is the best tariff law that
has ever been passed.
"The charge that the Payne Tariff
has been the cause of the increased
cost Of living on investigation to be
without the slightest foundation. There
L
in rates above the rates I'm the Dingley
Tariff that justifies the increase I'm fin
al retail price to the ultimate con-
sumption of single necessary article
of food. clothing or household use.
Notwithstanding this. some unscrup-
ulous dealers have put up the prices
OF their goods giving the Payne tar
iff as the necessity for the advance.
''The Payne Law is the most logical
ly constructed and scientific tariff that
we have had. II is well adapted to
serve as a permanent. general rev.
enue statute that shall be amended
from time 10 time to meet the exigen-
cies CT the treasury. and conform e
Industrial changes.
I'VE ought now to DO away with po-
litical tariff revi7ions with their ac-
companying uphcavals In the business
world and inaugurate system of tar
iff development by way OF natural
growth. In other words, we should
from now on revise the tariff gradu-
ally by scientific business methods
This cannot be done and ought not C.
be attempted by Tariff Commission
The idea of a Tariff Commission au-
thorized to report rates OF duty vio-
lates the spirit of that clause of the
Constitution of the United States
which provides that all bills for rails
ing revenue originate i'm the House OF
Representatives An executive tariff
commission vested with power to rec
omend rates might and frequently
would be in open conflict with the
House of Representatives. Such sit
uation would be intolerable and the
possible creation of such a situation Is
not to be thought OF.
An executive tariff bureau could ac-
complish nothing I'm the way of collect
ing facts that cannot be done by the
existing departments under direction
of the President with ample appropri-
ations in accordance with the Con-
gressi6nal authority. But the sug-
gestion and adoption of specific dut.
les and taxes always have been ant
always must be solely Legislative
function Even if a Tariff Commission
should be created and should recon-.
mend changes in rates of duty its rec.
concentrations would be aportive un.
der the present legislative procedure
in Congress.
"In order to replace the present un-
satisfactory method two things are
f.it 10 l.. ~
date information. the fullest and mos
searching. on every subject related tc
the tariff. This information should b'
gathered through the various depart
ments and by specially trained experts
under the direction of the presiden
and should 6.e transmitted as rapid,
rs secured {, he House of Represent
atives.
when THE information disclosed {
defo@t in tho tariff the information
would be like vast complicated ma
chine. that no one could start, becaus
| the lever for setting 1t in motion
could not be found. In the House o
tatives an amendment to
paragraph of the tariff might ibe con
sidered without opening up the Who'll
tariff but under present rules such
bill in the Senate could be amende
without a limit.
"The second requisite therefore fo
scientific tariff adjustment, the mean
OF making Information fruitful, tn
lever for starting the engine, Is
Joint Rule of the two Houses of Con
gress whereby a paragraph OF rev
eruc law can be amended withor
opening up for consideration any othe
portion of the law. The rule shoul
! provide that when the Ways an
Means Committee reports a Bin to a
! ter a paragraph OF a revenue law n
amendment to the bill that Is not gel
, mare to the paragraph shall be I'm oi