New-York tribune., 1911-01-12
FOR TARIFF commission
National Association FavorS Per
manent Body.
VICTORY SURE-BEVERlDGt
Don't Go to Congress as Pe'i'
tioners, but as Masters, Al
vises Indiana Senator.

vises Indiana Senator.
Washington. Jan. II-senator Beyeridge'
OF Indiana, stirred the convention Of NV
National Tariff Commission Association to
great enthusiasm at It's opening session 'o-
day, when he declared that while vlctoiS
for the permanent. tariff commission lue"
already was in sight. a greater victory
the triumph OF organized American phpi'
opinion-would be marked by the creation
OF the commission.
He said that the American people hau
right TO demand Of Congress the estaoIiSh-
ment Of d commission thnt would COM
mand the same dignity and have the same
adequacy Of powers as the Interstate COM
merce Commission He predicted that the
present session OF Congress would see the
enactment Of tariff commission legislation
but he advised the convention 10 lnsiSt
through its representatives. in Congress on
a non-partisan, all powerful commission.
He characterized the movement for the
commission as indicative of what can De
done when American business men and the
American people determine themselves TO
set the reforms needed by their welfare.
You should not go 10 Congress as
petitioners" he continued, mot az humble
servants, but as masters, for what Is CON
gress? Congress is worse than nothing
unless II il the organized public opinion
Of the people it represents and the public
servant OF all the people"
II. f.. Miles. of Racine, Wis. OF the
National Association OF Manufacturers, de-
cared that all business men OF every po-
lltical and economic belief supported the
tariff commission idea.
Professor Henry e. Emery. chairman OF
the present Tariff Board, presented plea
for the immortality OF the commission
He said, I'm part:
There has been much discussion as TO
the particular character OF such com
mission as you urge, and still more rs 10
how its duties and powers should be de-
termlned In detail | do not consider these
questions Of vital importance, provided the
real principle is adopted. Your association
is an association Of practical business men.
! am sure yOu will be the last 10 lose
real gain by quibblnB over details + ur-
thermore. your association represents
large number Of commercial organizations
throughout the country made up or mem
bers I'm many different fields of commercial
and industrial activity. As an association
you ought 10 realize. and must realize. the
futility Of constantly harping upon the an
tagOnism between producer ana CONSUMER
or manufactures and merchant
Many OF you manufacture goods. You
all consume goods. and you all buy ana
sell goods | understand that this move
ment which you represent Is a moVeWsht
not OF one class, nor of one sectlon' put
IS a business mems movement 10 attempt
10 secure a closer and more intelligent re-
lation between the government ana the
business world I'm matters OF policy WhlCh
vitality affect business interests and the
general economic welfare. | know that
you are here out OF public spirit, hopetul
OF securing not such legislation as wouln
benefit your own private interests put sucu @
legislation as you think would be Oh per-
mancnt and general benefit. Your delloera-
tions cannot fail to be profitable and mar.
monious If you bear always IN NINA that
only two things are necessary ana essen
ton: First, the facts, and, second con-
tinuous source from which these iacts MAY
be derived
Representative Samuel w. Mccall OF
Massachusetts,. concluded the days session
with an address on the Importance OF non
nart,aan treatment OF the tariff commits
sion idea. He commended the work OF the
nresent tariff board, and urged that II be
made n permanent body. He emphasized
the necessity for scientific investigation OF
the elements in the cost OF production IN
ALL parts of the world, and presented
plea for the recognition ol t"c N"hSNiN"
tionaI prerogatiye of the House over tariff
laws" charging that special interests
have vastly more influence in the SEN
ate"
Senator Lodge was the principal speaker
at a dinner given by the New England
delegates TO the convention tonight. Mr..
Lodge was cheered when he was intro
duced by Ex-Governor Curtis Guild, jr.
''If the work OF the tariff commission
he said "is to be of any value, II must
have the opportunity to get as nearly as
possibe the real industrial costs. These
can be obtained through general reports
10 Congress. but the commission must
have the right to send for persons and
papers and get at actual conditions. Ihe
clauses in the Longworth BILL | think.
covering those points are as fair as they
can be made. Power IS given To ask infor-
nation The commissioners would have the
right to lay before Congress the names OF
those refusing information, but the COM
mission would not have to furnish them TO
anv one else 1t will be getting all lnfor-
nation and at the same time guarding IT..
Others who spoke in advocacy of tarin
commission were Representatives Hlll, or
Connecticut and Guernsey OF Maine.