Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-24
TARIFF BOARD SURE
Unanimous Vote in Committee
in Favor of Bill.
PLEASES THE PRESIDENT
Assurances Given That Measure
Will Pass the House.
DUTIES OF THE BOARD DEFINED
Concession Made to Democrats
Which Secured Their Support.
Smooth Sailing Ahead.

~S~>>~>~G9
The bill to create a tariff board, which
the ways and means COMMITTEES has been
considering ever since the Christmas holi-
days, was this morning ordered to be
reported favorably Both democrats and
republicans voted for the measure, the
action being unanimous.
The bill reported contains, substantially,
the provisions Of the bill introduced by
Representative Longworth of Ohio and
OF the bill introduced by Representative
Dalzell Of Pennsylvania.
1.-The committee deemed 1t advisable" !"
said Chairman Payne, in a brief state
ment given out this morning, Ito con-
tinue the name tariff board adopted by
Congress in the provision made for the
present tariff board, and not change 1t
to commission
Other Changes Made.
The other changes in section one Of the
Longworth bill, excepting that fixing the
salaries Of the members of the board.
which are placed in this bill at $500 for
the chairman and $1,000 each for the
other members, were made by the COM
mittee on the ground that improved the
verbiage OF the section, which fixes the
membership at five and relates to the
members terms Of service.
Section two, fixing the principal Office
OF the board in Washington and relating
to payment OF its expenses. is substan-
tally the provision Of the Longworth bill.
Sections and 4, prescribing in part
the duties Of the board, retain all the
provisions Of the Longworth and DalzelI
bills. Section is the all-important part
of the measure.
Duties of the Board.
It is as follows:
THAT it shall be the duty OF said board
to investigate the cost Of production of
all articles which by any act of Congress
now In force or hereafter enacted are
made the subject Of tariff legislation
with special reference to the prices paid
domestic and foreign labor and the prices
paid for raw materials, whether domestic
or imported. entering into manufactured
articles. producers prices and retail
prices of commodities, whether domestic
or imported; the condition of domestic
and foreign markets affecting the Amer
lean products. including detailed infor-
nation with respect thereto, together with
all other facts which may be necessary
or convenient in fixing duties or In aid
ing the President or other officers OF the
government in the administration of the
custom laws, and shall also make inves-
tgauon OF any such subject whenever
directed by either house of Congress-"
The phrase with all other facts in
cluded in this section, means that the
board in investigating the cost of produc-
tion at home and abroad shall take into
consideration all questions concerned with
production, overhead charges dividend
capacity and all such questions. This
was an important feature Of the Dalzell
bill. and regarded as very essential by
American manufacturers.
Concession to Democrats.
It is understood that the democrats
stood for the bill and made possible the
unanimous report upon it, owing to the
consent of the republicans to the inser-
ton in paragraph Of the words land
shall make investigation of any such SUBJ
ject whenever directed by either house
of Congress" In the next Congress, when
the democrats control the House, they
will be able to direct the board to make
inquiries for them along lines they de-
sire.
Sections and Of the reported bill
are the same as those in the Longworth
bill. Thus. the committee retains the
provisions in section ). providing for the
subpoenaing of witnesses. and in section
of receiving information which shall be
held by the board as confidential.
Section Z Is the same as the Longworth
bill, excepting that the committee has
dropped out the provision for report to
the ways and means committee Of the
House and to the finance committee OF
the Senate as being useless.
Gratifying to the President.
President Taft and members Of his cab
met were elated this morning when
telephone message was received from the
Capitol announcing that the committee
on ways and means Of the House had
unanimously agreed to report to the
House on Monday the bill providing for
a permanent tariff commission
The Longworth measure, from which
the bill was principally drawn. has the
approval OF Mr.. Taft. The bill agreed
upon, it is understood, will be taken up
by the House under suspension of the
rules, and II is announced that the Presi-
dent has assurance that IL will be prompt
ly passed.
The President is also confident that the
bill will be enacted by the Senate. The
procedure in that body may be slightly
delayed. but the administration is conf
dent OF success.
Despite the pessimistic reports that have
reached the President regarding the
chances Of the bill, he has insisted all
along that Congress shall pass this legis-
lation before the session ended. Should
the tariff board submit a report on any
schedule at this time the Presidents pro-
gram in this direction would be complete.
RAITOT ON SENATORSHIPS