The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-11

the tariff, in this and ether countries;
that Mr.. Sanders had for years been
an earnest and disinterested advo-
cate of the idea of a tariff commits
sion; and that Mr.. Reynolds had long
been in charge of the practical adj
ministration of our customs laws.
And yet we recognize frankly to-day
that our ideas regarding the work of
a tariff commission are not only more
definite, but are in some ways radi-
cally different from what they were
when we first met q year ago. 1t is
impossible, and hardly necessary, at
this time to go into details on these
points. Furthermore, I do not wish
to take any stand regarding any par
ticular bill NOW before Congress. In
fact. I am not here to make sugges-
tions but simply to give the result Of
cur experience
The main point is that your organ
iZatiCn represents a demand for an
, Improvement in the method of inves-
LEGATIONS which shall serve as a basis
for tariff legislation. You, as practi-
cal business men, show by coming
! here at this time that you believe
that more satisfactory results can be
secured by thorough and diSinter-
ested investigation of industrial facts
in relation to the tariff. ] can assure
you, from our experience, that we are
confident that thorough and accurate
information can be obtained. There
! are many difficulties, and different
lines of inquiry must be adopted in
different cases. On your main con-
tention, however, that the Govern
ment can secure adequate and unblas-
ed information for such purposes you
are unquestionably correct
Your next point, as understand it,
is that such action to be worth while
should not be in the nature of re-
port as to the conditions at any one
moment of time but should be kept
continuously up to date by a perma-
nent investigating body.
This body, if / understand your
purpose, shall watch and study, from
year to year and month to month,
changing conditions of business with
reference to sources of material, new
processes of production and the vary
ing conditions of market competition
at home and abroad. It is to be an
Investigating body purely. 1t shall be
no part of its business to have any
theories regarding the tariff, or to
make any recommendations as to
whether or not protection is needed
or how much protection is needed. 1t
should, however, be constantly ready
to furnish accurate information to
those branches of the Government
which under the Constitution have
the determination of these great ques-
lions of policy. This understand to
be the idea which You have in mind.
Both from the study of our methods
of tariff making and from our own
experience, we are convinced that
temporary body making a report on
some particular tariff act cannot per-
form service which will warrant eth
er the time or money expended, but
that a continuous body ready with
information at any time will be of
genuine and permanent service to the
country.
There has been much discussion as
to the particular character of such
commission as you urge, and still
more as to how its duties and powers
| should be determined in detail. I do
not consider these questions of vital
importance, provided the real princi-
pie is adopted. Your association is
an association of practical business
men. / am sure you will be the last
to lose a real gain by quibbling over
details. Furthermore, your associa-
ton represents a large number of
commercial organizations throughout
the country made up of members in
many different fields of comm ercial
and industrial activity. As an asso-
citation you ought to realize. and must
realize,the futility of constantly harp
ing upon the antagonism between
producer and consumer or manufac-
turer and merchant. Many of you
manufacture goods. You all con-
sumo goods, and you all buy and sell
goods. understand. that this move
ment which you represent is a move
! ment not of one class, nor of one sec
ton, but is a business mems move
ment to attempt to secure a. closer
and more intelligent relation between
the Government and the business
world in matters of policy which vi
tally affect business interests and the
general economic welfare. 1 know
that you are here out OF public spirit,
. .Je4hl CT securing not such legisla-
ton as would benefit your own pri-
Vate interests, but such legislation as
you think would be of permanent and
general benefit. Your delibera tons
cannot fail to be profitable and har-
mCnious, if you bear always in mind
that only two things are necessary
and essential: First, the facts; and,
Second, continuous source from
which these facts may be derived"