Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-11

law is more prominent in the United
States just at present than 1t mas ever
before been. President Taft in his last
message spoke out for tariff commits
sion, and he will address the national
convention at its banquet.
X
At a tariff commission convention held
at Indianapolis in 1909 the need of a
strong and per-
Committee Named manent t ari If
to Start Campaign. emphasized and
an effort was made to impress this
idea on the country. A committe of lOO
was appointed to conduct an aggressive
campaign. This committee finally resoiY-
ed itself into the National Tariff Commits
sion Association The work of the asso-
citation has been in part educational. 1t
has devoted attention to the state conven-
lions of the different parties, and the re-
suit has been that a large number OF
such conventions have Endorsed the per-
manent tariff commission Idea. The ON
Gals o. the association maintain that II
was in large measure due to their ell
forts that the present tariff board was
organized. Not only does the association
favor a commission, but also action on
one tariff schedule at time.
The advocates of the tariff commission
take the position that a permanent nom
partisan board, with powers specifically
enumerated by law, Is essential to the
proper adjustment of tariff schedules.
The removal Of the tariff from politics, it
is urged, will be brought about II the
country is provided with tariff commits
sion. The great function Of such a COM
mission, as advocated by the National
Tariff Commission Association, is to get
at the facts as to the cost of production
in this country and abroad in order that
tariff schedules may be adjusted so as to
measure this difference. The believers in
tariff commission assert they do not
want such a commission or board to
make recommendations. but they do want
the facts set forth SO that Congress can
have them at it's disposal and adjust du-
ties in the light of the information thus
presented
Support of the tariff commission idea
in Congress and the country can no
longer be said to
Not Considered be partisan. The
commission plan
A"A siSoA MANUEL has strong repub
lican support, and at the same time many
leading republicans are opposed to it. And
there is also a division of opinion among
democrats. Twenty-eight republicans state
conventions have in recent months in
dorsed the tariff commission principle,
fifteen have Endorsed revision schedule by
schedule, twelve have kept silent. in eight
there has been no convention. and from
one there is no report. Most of the demo-
cratic state conventions have made no
mention of the subject, but in California
and Utah the tariff commission principle
was Endorsed. In three of the states,
Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin,
the tariff board has been denounced by
the democrats as a subterfuge.
Recest conferences between the Presi-
dent and leading members of Congress
have resulted in a strong disposition to
concentrate about bill presented by
Der OF the ways and means committee.
This bill provides for commission Of five
members, with terms Of six years, liberal
salaries and ample powers to Investigate
persons or papers and to summon wit
neSseS under oath. It is generally sup
posed q tariff commission bill will be
passed at this session of Congress. It is
set down as foremost in the Presidents
program Of legislation which he wants
enacted at this session. While the indi-
cations now favor legislation it Is not to
be forgotten that short sessions OF Con-
gress are proverbial for achieving little
in the way Of important general legisla-
ton. and there are rocks in the path on
which the commission idea may stumble
before March 4.
X X
The Constitution of the United States
says that all bills for raising revenue