The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-11
PROF. HENRY
C. .EMERY ON
THE TARIFF
Chairman of Tariff Board
Addresses National Tariff
Commission Association
Convention.

Speech of Prof. Henry c. Emery be-
fore National Tariff Commission
Association Convention.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE annual
convention of the National Tariff
Commission Association opened this
morning at the Columbia theatre with
over 700 delegates from all parts of
the United States in attendance. 1t
was an unusual gathering of business
men. There were representatives
present of practically every important
commercial organization OF the coun-
try in addition to those chosen by
the Governors of many States and
the Mayors of the larger cities.
Many Senators and Representatives
also were present, some as the ap-
pointed delegates of their States, and
others as the invited guests of the
National Tariff Commission Associa-
ton.
Following the invocation by the
Chaplain of the Senate, Rev. Ulysses
G.. b. Pierce, the principal speaker
of the session, Prof. Henry c. Emery,
Chairman of the Tariff Board, was
introduced. Professor Emery said
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
National Tariff Commission Associa-
feel a natural embarrassment in
addressing you to-day. Many of you
have long worked in favor of a per-
maHent commission to investigate tar
in conditions. My connection with
this question has been limited to one
year of experience along lines which
at least are beginning in this direc-
ton. You all know the history of
the legislation by which the so-ealled
Tariff Board was brought into exist
ence. The wording of the original
.,f.t oil 1-qp a M G mn
enabled the President to employ such
persons as he might need to assist
him and the officers of the Govern
ment in carrying into effect the pro-
visions of, section two of the Tariff
Act and in the administration of the
customs laws. Hence the Tariff Board
and its work up to date are purely
the creation of the President. The
act gave him sufficient authority but
placed no obligation upon him. All
that has been done in this direction
is due to his appreciation of the prob
lem and his earnest and courageous
determination to use every effort to
secure unbiased and impartial infor-
nation regarding the tariff.
Let me say two things: First, that
the appointments were in no sense of
political nature and that no ques-
ton was asked before hand as to the
party affiliations or the political the
cries of any member of the Board. I
Know, Tor instance, tnaC my own ap-
pointment was settled before it was
known whether 1, was a Republican
or a Democrat, protectionist or a
free trader. Second, that at the
first meeting which we had with the
President, he gave us our instructions
to proceed to find out as rapidly as
Iipossible all essential facts regarding
the effect of the tariff without refer
encetto any party, any theory or any
sectional interest shall never for
get the emphasis with which he told
us that he wanted the facts and moth
ing but the facts. From that time to
this there never has. been a moment
that he has not maintained this high
position and supported with absolute
stea dfastness the great principle
which you gentlemen have long advo-
Gated. l understand that you are
here at this Convention TO give him
loyal support i'll the effort which he
has made in this direction and to
urge that what he has done under his
authority as President shall be made
continuous by Act of Congress.
L take it that what you want from
me to-day is simply the benefit of our
practical experience in this new line
of work. Frankly. 1 think / may
say that many of you have been, and
still are, somewhat at sea as to the
detailed working of your own pro-
gram. l am sAe that it has taken
the members of the present Board a
long time to make definite their own
ideas on this subject. If | may make
q personal reference, let me say that
before undertaking this work | had
for many years studied the methods
of tariff making, and the effects of