Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1911-03-02
MOVE is RIGHT STEP
IDEA OF TARIFF COMMISSION A
GOOD ONE.
Possibility That by This Means Cues
ton Can Be Taken Out Of Politics
and Solved in a Manner Sat
isfactory to All.

There is now good prospect that a
tariff commission will be authorized
that may be of incalculable service in
securing a revision Of the tariff with
out disturbance to business and with
the nearest practicable approach to
justice all around.
The bill as Il stood has been modi
fed in two regards. 1t has been pro
vided that either house of congress
may call on the commission for sucl
information as may be desired and
that of the five members of the com
mission not more than three shall be
of the same political party. These
notifications should remove the Objec-
tions of the Democrats to the measure
The first places the commission fully
at their disposal in the next congress
when they will have the responsibility
for the action of the house. The sec
ond gives them fair representation
on the commission, and entirely in
sures them against any partisan use OF
the commission. The committee on
rules has been instructed to bring in
the bill for action as soon as possible
The sooner the better, for prompt ac-
tion by the house will make the
chances of the commission better in
the senate
We are not of those who believe that
the commission can solve the long
standing and complicated problems in
volved in a revision of our fiscal sys
TEN in a single session. Nor is any
such view entertained by the able
business men who have been laboring
for several years to promote the adop-
tion of the commission principle. Their
purpose has been to secure the en-
ployment of a board of sensible and
impartial men, qualified by experience
and study, and clothed with reasOna-
BILE powers. to inquire into the practi-
cal operation of the various duties i'm
posed by the tariff and 10 continue the
inquiry for the enlightenment of con
gress, the executive and the public. 1t
is not their idea to make q commission
TO bolster up the tariff or to batter
it down. The cardinal principle of
protection or of free trade is not in
volved at all The whole plan simply
relates to method and will necessarily
be of as much advantage to honest
men on one side of the question as to
those on the other.
If, then, as is plain. the country is
ready for a revision. surely it is the
duty of all reasonable men to prepare
the way for it so that it shall do as
much crpod oDd &C liftIe harm nc pOcSi
Bile. Toward this the tariff commits
sion, as devised in the bill now pend
ing, is unquestionably an aid. 1t will
not take the tariff otu of politics. for it
cannot, but it will tend to make it an
issue of practical, businesslike, intelli-
gent political action. 1t will tend to
prevent it being made, as it has been
in the past, a matter for truck and
dicker, for indirect bribery and corrup-
tion. At one time ii was suspected
that a commission would serve as an
excuse for delay and would be used as
means to mislead pubic opinion, but
the amendments We have outlined are
evidences of good faith, and the meas
ure now seems to be quite free from
objection. If a good commission is
selected. and we have confidence in
the sagacity and sincerity of President
Taft in this regard, it will be what
may be called a measure of national
sanitation, and heaven knows that it
is needed. There has never been in
the twisted and tangled history of our
tariff an Instance of a measure sup
ported by so many and varying inter-
ests involved in tariff Legislation,
which is another proof of the need of
sanitation and Of the probability that
we shall get Il through this method
New York Times.