Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-24

friendly examination of the books than
by a necessarily antagonistic cross-ex-
animation of the proprietor of the bust
ness when on the stand. The report
vindicates the judgment of the European
authorities, whom Prof Emery con-
suited, that the use of formal cross-ex-
aminations to secure facts in regard TO
the cost of the manufactured articles
is not the best course for getting at the
facts.
1t Is said with respect to the tariff
board that its Investigations are not
to be relied upon, because it must Sc
cure its information from interested par
ties, and that no information is available
to it that is not available directly TO the
ways and means committee, and that the
committee can secure testimony of such
people more effectively than the tariff
board. Such a statement fails entirely
TO recognize the real character of the
Investigations of the tariff board. Ma
terial secured by that board is not in the
nature of testimony of different parties
examined as to what they think on any
OF these facts. 1t is in the result Of an
examination OF the books and records
OF producers and manufacturers and a
tabulation from these by the expert
agents OF the board. resulting in perfectly
definite and precise information as to the
actual results given by the best industrial
or commercial operations for a given
time In short. 1t is the substitution of
records compiled from the books of the
concerns for the testimony of individuals.
Answer 10 Objections.
Then again 1t SAID that other bureaus
or agencies of the government longer es-
tablished and Of better organization have
made, or are making all the investiga-
lions Of this kind necessary. The maker
OF such an objection fails to appreciate
the marked difference between the work
of the board and most other agencies Of
the government. The work of the tariff
board is not primarily statistical. Other
agencies OF the government especially in
the Department Of Agriculture and the De-
partment OF Commerce and Labor, carry
on statistical Investigations of much
Importance, much OF which has TO be used
by the tariff board, and in all cases the
tariff board endeaYors to avoid any du-
plication OF work of this kind. But such
statistical work as to production. imports
and exports, number of people employed
earnings per week, etc, are a very small
part Of the investigation necessary for
a consideration of tariff problems. No
agency of the government has ever done
even statistical work primarily with a
view to considering the effects Of tariff
rates on producers and consumers. For
instance, there is much printed material
on the subject Of wages in. different lines
of industry, but practically none of this
is OF much value for a discussion OF tar
! If questions, since wages per day or per
week signify little as to the actual labor
cost per unit Of article. The investigA-
ton now being made by the tariff board
into the textile industries will develop a
knowledge regarding wages in relation "a
the amount OF output, efficiency OF la.
borers and machines in this and leading
foreign countries Of a character never
made public before and based on the ae-
tual wages paid and output secured OF the
thousands Of laborers and thousands of