Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-19
suits he believed would be obtained b!

scientific revision.
4 "A popular demand arose for th'
4 formal creation by law OF permaneh
/ non-partisan tariff commission. Com
mercial bodies all over the county,
united in a movement to secure ade
Guate legislation for the purpose AM
an association with a nation wide con
stituency was organized to promote
| the cause, The public opinion In faVoi
! Of such a commission was evidenced
by revisions adopted in l9oS ana l'lt
by republican state conventions IL a.
least % states. !,
"In addition, efforts were made 70
secure change In the rules OF pro.
cedure in the house and senate with d
view to preventing the consideration
Of tariff changes except schedule W
schedule.
The Tariff Commission Sentiment
"The business of the country rests
on protective tariff basis. The puDllc
keenly realized that disturbance OF
business by a change in the tariff ana
a threat of injury to the industries
OF the country ought to be avoided anu
that nothing could help so mucn 10
minimize the fear of destructive
changes as the known existence Oh q
reliable source Of information 1or OK
ecutive action.
'"The deep interest In the matter OF
en- impartial ascertainment OF facts pc
fore any new revision, was eVloenceu
by an effort to pass a tarlll .conlnis-
sion bill in the short session OF tns
sixty-first congress in which many o,
both parties united. Such bill passeu
both houses. It provided commission
of five members to be appointed by
the president. not more than three OF
whom were to belong to the same
party and gave them the power ana
made it their duty to investigate the
operation of the tariff, the COMPARE
tive cost OF production at home ana
abroad, and like matters OF Importance
in fixing the terms of a revenue meas
ure, and required them to report 10
the executive and to congress when d.
rected.
Present Board Fully Adequate.
Several, not vital, amendments were
made in the senate, which necessl-
tated q return of the bill to the house,
where, because Of the limited dura-
llOu Ol Juc oSoolOA q SOAAPSA "~A ~
small minority were able to prevent
Its becoming law.
''On the failure of this bill, l took
such steps as could to make the
tariff board I had already appointed
substitute Of the sup
posed tariff commission. An appro-
oriation of $225,0OO to continue the
work until June 80, 1912 had been
granted by congress by alternative, to
10 applet tc the board had appoin-
ed, unless a tariff commission bill
vas passed. On this appropriation the
tariff commission, If
treated and appointed, was directed
o make report on schedule TX" by
)ec. 1, 1911. Accordingly added two
MEMBERS of the tariff board from the
opposition party, and directed the
,oard to make report on schedule
X by December l next. The board
iffers in no way from the tariff COM
mission as it would have been, ex-
ept as to power to summon wit
lesses; am advised by the members
# the board that, without this power,
hey have had no diff Guilty In securing
he information they desire.
In concluding the president held 1t
imperative to await the report Of tho
ariff board in December before
the tariff, If faith is kept
nth the people.