Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-09-28

be taken out Of -ts5sltics, I'm the sense
that It win never be made the subject
of political discussion. Men differ
radically as to the economical wisdom
Of a protective tariff. or a tariff for
revenue only, and that must always be
the subject Of political discussion But
there is a means of taking the ascer-
tainment of facts away from a tribunal
like that Of the ways and means COM
mittee, which is necessarily hurried In
its inquiries and necessarily lacking IN
thoroughness and the temper neces
sary to reach the most impartial CON
illusions. 1t is possible to transfer
those Investigations heretofore made
by the ways and means and finance
committees to a tribunal which will
make a thorough and impartial In
Quiry. do not mean to say that the
tariff board which have appointed ID
constituted by the best method posi-
BILE. do not think 1t is. think 1t
would be better to have It appointed
by the president, with the confirma'
ton of the senate, and to make 1t in
dependent Of the president and OF con
gress SO far as that may be possible
under our system. do say that the
present board is as independent as
any board can be, but admit that It's
method Of appointment is such that
conditions might arise having ten
dency to rob 1t of its impartial char.
acter. Therefore, ventured, with all
the energy of which was capable, the
establishment Of a permanent tarin
commission, and l shall urge upon the
congress, as long as 1t is my function
to do SO, the establishment by law Of
such a commission.
Tribute to Present Board.
But, meantime, congress has en-
abled me to organize the present COM
mission. They have shown by the
work already done how thorough their
future work will be, and they have
demonstrated by what they have done
that the material which they Will
place before the congress and the
executive in December with reference
to Schedules X and THAT is, on
woolens and cottons-will be OF more
valuable character and one from
which more valuable conclusions can
be drawn than any report of the kind
ever submitted to any legislative body.
IT can not more fittingly close these
remarks than by quoting the conciu-
sion Of an impartial and competent
committee Of the Tariff Commission
association after a full and personal
investigation of the work Of the tarifi
board. as follows:
"Tn conclusion our &C -amittee finds
that the tariff board is composed OF
able, impartial, and earnest men, who
are ,ssyotinR their enarstaa ""ra-
servedly to the work before them; that
the star has been carefully selected
for the work in view. is efnciently or
ganiSed and directed, and includes q
technical experts: that the
number Of exceptionally competent
work Of the board. vast and intricate
in detail. is already highly organised,
well systematized, and running
smoothly; and that congress and the
people can now await the completion
Of that work with entire confidence
that It is progressing as rapidly Ha
consistent with proper thoroushness
and that It viii amply justify all the
time and expense II entaila We be
lieve that the value Of the work when
completed viii Be 50 great and 90 evil
dent a. to leave remaining no single
doubt as to the expedlency Of main
tanning Il as q permanent function Of
the government for the benefit Of the
people,