The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-08-31
IS MOTTO
Of TARIFF BOARD
Country Must Wait Until Taft's Ex-
perts Are Good and Ready
To Act.
BY gibson GARDNER.


WASHINGTON. Aug. sl.--What is
the tarin board doing?
Is II getting real facts? Is its re-
port going TO be something on which
to base real downward revision or on
which to base further delay?
Sept. rs. 1909, the tariff board was
created. June z. 1911. Il months
later, congress called for whatever
data the board had collected on wool.
and was informed the board had moth
ing to report.
What was the tariff board doing
during these Fl months?
Soon after the appointment of the
board, Its chairman, Henry G. Emery.
established headquarters In the pri-
vate residence OF Frederick Hale, son
OF Senator Eugene Hale. at Portland.
Maine.
Senator Hale has been known for
years as one Of the most powerful de-
tenders OF ultra protection. He
helped Aldrich prevent the creation
OF tariff commission armed with
adequate powers and provide only for
a tariff board" which In little more
than q corps Of statisticians for the
compilation OF information which may
be given to them voluntarily by tariff
protected interests.
II was to the homo of Frederick
Hale that Mr.. Emery went to perfect
plans and outline the work that was
to come. 80
The results Of these conferences
were apparent Early In October,
1910, q dispatch from Beverly, sum
mer White House." announced that
the work OF the tariff board was to be
doomed at q series Of banquets.
These began at Chicago, Dec. 4. with
Chairman Emery as principal speaker
and Alvin II. Sanders. another mem
Der, present to say nice things about
the chairman.
For three months the banqueting
campaign occupied the time and at
tention of the board.
Among the states visited were Ohio,
Massachusetts,, New York. and Penn
sylvania. Among the hosts was the
Awkwright club, the leading associa-
ton Of ultra protection manufactur-
ers. The climax was reached at
Washington, Feb. 1, when Chairman
Emery was the guest Of the National
Association of Wool Manufacturer
the wards of schedule K-with Will
lam M. Wood on one side and Vice
President Frederick 8. Clark OF the
association on the other.
This is the same Wood who figured
in letters written In behalf OF the
wool manufacturers association TO
leading magazines, protesting agita-
ton for O lower tariff on wool and
expressing confidence In the tarin
board.
Speaking OF this banquet. Mr.. EN-
cry IL reported to have said. They
pumped me full. telling me how mag
nificently / had handled the problems
before me and advising me now 10
estimate costs" 81
The plan finally adopted for esti-
mating costs is the plan which. at
this dinner, Emery was advised 10
adopt.
II was year before the board
started to investigate the manufactur-
ing end OF the wool tariff.
On June 20, 1911, after congress
called for the data. compiled on wool,
Chairman Emery, with four assistants,
started for Europe to investigate the
cost of wool production. In July,
1911, agents OF the board began In
ouiries in American mills.
After the February banquet OF the
Wool Manufacturers association In
Washington, Emery decided II would
he iust as well to send samples OF
wooden goods TO manufacturers and
accept their estimates as to the costs
of manufacture.
In September, 1910. President Taft
wrote the chairman OF the Repub-
ltcan congressional committee that IL
IN a practical impossibility to deter
mine with accuracy the difference In
cost of production at home and
abroad. This, however, is the data
which the tariff board has promised
to deliver.
The Burton incident Is an Hum
mating sidelight on the work OF the
commission. q. w. Burton sent 10
Europe to gather exact information.
furnished series OF special articles
TO the Los Angeles Times, In which
he said: "Your tariff revision De
mand, feliow-Americans, Is fad,
"The merchants of our country
should stop making such noise until
they learn what they are talking
about"
ON the demand Of Senator Works
Of California, this impartial investi-
gator" was fired.
There Is significance also In the an
nounced withdrawal from the boards
stan OF Samuel g. Dale, editor OF the
Textile World Record, Of Boston. The
tariff board asked Dale to help with
schedule X. Dale consented, on con-
dition that he act in an advisory ca
pacity only, and have no responsipii-
ity for any act Of the board.
April q, 1911, Dale suddenly term
mated his relations with the board.
making this public statement:
"At the request Of the tariff board
early In 1910, ! consented to advise
that body regarding the Investigation
of schedule X. This connection last
ed until April "a, of this year, when
I terminated II. A complete record
of nv service IL In possession OF the
hoard. II includes an analysis OF
schedule X and numerous reports on
details relating 10 that schedule.
envy reasons sfor withdrawing from
the service of the board were stated
At length In a letter dated April ~.
II seems to me II would be discour-
teous for me to make this letter pub
lie. At the same time I want II dis
tinctly understood that am ready TO
have ALI OF my reports and correspon
dence with the board made public now
mr. nj any time In the future.
7 not only have no objection to the
publication OF my reports and cores
- AaaN 49, a.