New-York tribune., 1911-03-21
FIRM FOR TARIFF BOARD
President Taft to Insist Upon 1t
as Necessary to Tariff Revision.
MUST HAVE FACTS AS BASIS
Believes Even Tariff for Rev
enue- Only Democrats Will See
Advantages of Commission.
IFrom IT.. Tribune Bureau.I

From The Tribune Bureau'l
Washington. March 20.-Not only will the
President urgc Congress In his first mes
sage - the eed Congress ~ provide for
permanent tariff board but he VIII IN
ali prohs hity point ont the folly ~ ot-
tempting To revise the tariff schedules IN
The absence Of definite information such as
tho present tpriT board is gathering am
compiling
Fortunately. the legislation passed NJ
the last session has rendered tho Executive
entirely independent Of the action OF Con
eress on his recommendation that the 'arln
board he made q permanent institution III
SO far as furnishing information to IN
coming Congress- Is concerned. win ll'
appropriation granted by tho last congress
he has been able 70 increase the remDfi
ship of The board 10 FIVE. as was "orten-
plated by the act which failed In the closing
hours of the last session. He has, more
over. instructed the board 10 conduct
thoroush investigation into certain schcd-
ule.. notably Schedule Is. wool and wool
len goods" and TO be ready 10 report nv
december I. How far he Will So in pre-
sentinc the situation 20 Congress argn-
mertatively in his message the President
has the entire logic Of the situation on his
side
Numerous efforts have been made hy both
Re publicans and Democrats 10 revise Inc
tariff by the old process Of hearings ny
committees Of Congress and the series of
comrromises which the conflicting views or
members Of both houses inevitably entail
Thot this method Is inadequate and inrsrts-
bly, produces unsatisfactory results has been
abun1sntly demonstrated.
new method has been devised, hy the
Republican party II Ia true, but one not tne
less vell calculated 10 sarve tho purposes
Il IN" Democrats The Republican party
would adjust the duties TO the difference IN
the cost IF production here and abroad plus
2 rea sorahla profit To the manufa cturer.
Obviously the frat essential To carry this
policy into eHect is to determine The cost
of production here and abroad The Demo
Gratis are pretty widely DIVIDED with regard
to their tariff policy. hut a considerable
number Of them profess ~ favor tariff
for revenue only
Eut. according ~ the administration
thing would contribute moro effectively
10 the adjustment Of even q tariff for re'e-
nue onlv than an accurate knowledge ot
fho cost Of production here and abroad
for assuming that the Democrats were
unit in their determination to frame tari'
laws ba sad on that policv, such knowledge
would he essential ~ = determination of
the amount OF revenue which could he "N
rAc.od from, given rates of duty. and when
II comes to those Democrats who faVor
incidental protection the necessity ol
such information is obvious
To all unpreiudiced observers, accnr1'ns
to the administration, II must Ia equally
obvious that any effort to readtnSt ma
,sriN schedules without such knowledge
viii be attended with mending academic
discussion and controversy, followed by an
er,ira absence Of intelligent lsgislsuon'
For these reasons the President believes he
will he entirely logical in depreca'ing any
hit or miss effort 10 readjust tho 'arlif
scbadules AT the special session, especially
as Nv the time Congress meets In regular
g.sx,on ibe existing Tariff Board vii be IN
. roeition 10 present accurate informsncn'
Ubich the President will promptly lay pe-
fore The legislative body.
,s sor making the Tariff Board per
=, ,,o,t institution. the President feels tnat
he has every Ilgnt III '>f''' ''''' 80
ito, fror,, the Democratic House. the meas
,,re nassod the last House supporteo pN
considerable percentages or hemoc'a'o
votes f., WAS voted for by several Demo
Gratis i'm the senate. and It failed hna'l}
only hecause the vote in the Senate Vas so
long DELAYED as 10 render " possible for
fe,y nrhus.ers 10 defeat ,t in the CLOSING
hours of the House
I, the Democrats refurs at the coming
session 10 make the board permanent
institution. they Will not thereby interfere
with tba work of the existing board "r
the compilation and presentation
Of definite information regarding costs NJ
production. but they viii, IN the estimation
Of the President, stultify Themselves and
20 the country lack of sin
ceritv which would hs tantamount 90 po-
litjesl suicide. It was. by the way, to carry
out the spirit Of Congress and to rob the
Democrats o. any excuse FOR rejecting the
reports Of tie Tariff Board that the rresi
dent appointed two Democrats az members
cf the existing board.
Of course tho chief topic in the forth
coming message will be Canadian reel
procity. ON the importance Of promptly
spproving tho agreement entered into be-
tween the administrations of this country
and canada NJ. Taft viii lay great stress.
According 70 present cXI eotstione. the