El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-11

'HE meeting in Washington today
and tomorrow Of the National
Tariff commission is expected to
give more prominence than ever to the
question Of the establishment of a per-
Inanent, independent tariff commission
Upwards of 500 delegates from every
sectlon OF the union will attend the ma
tlonaI convention Of the association.
me object is to promote tariff commits
sion legislation and to bring it about
at the present short session of congress
If possible.
With president Taft urging congress
to provide for a permanent tariff COM
mission; with congress, more especially
the mouse of representatives, seriously
considering the passage Of a bill on this
subject; and with national convention
representing large number of COM
nnerclaI bodies in session for the pur=
pose OF adding impetus to the move
nent, 1t IS safe to say the question Of
having a permanent tariff commission
provided for by law is more prominent
In the United States just at present
than 1t has ever before been. PreSi-
dent Taft in his last message spoke out
Tor a tariff commission and he will. ad-
dress the national convention at it's
banquet
The Tariff Campaign.
At a tariff commission convention
helo at indianapolis in 1908, the need of
srrong and permanent tariff commits
sion was emphasized and an effort was
made to impress this idea on the conn
try a committee of one hundred was
appointed to conduct an aggressive
campaign. This committee finally re-
solved itself into the National Tariff
the association has been in part educa-
tional 1t has devoted attention to the
state conventions of the different
parties and the result has been that a
large number OF such conventions have
endorsed the permanent tariff commits
sion idea. The officials Of the associa-
ton maintain that it was in a large
measure due to their efforts that the
present tariff board was organized. Not
only does the association favor a com
mission, but also action on one tariff
schedule at a time
The advocates of the tariff commits
sion take the position that q perma-
nent, non-partisan board, with powers
specifically enumerated by law, is es-
sential to the proper adjustment OF tar
III schedules. The removal of the tariff
from politics, IT is urged, will be
brought about If the country is provided
function of such commission, as ad-
Yocated by the National Tariff Commits /
sion association, is to get at the facts |
as TO the cost of production in this |
country and abroad in order that tariff /
schedules may be adjusted so as to 1
measure this difference. The believers !
IN tariff commission assert they dol
not want such a commission or board |
to make communications, but they do /
want the facts set forth so that con-
gress can have them at its disposal and |
adjust duties in the light of the infor-
nation thus presented
No Longer Partisan.
Support of the tariff commission idea
In congress and the country can no
longer be said to be partisan. The COM
mission plan has strong Republican
support and at the same time many
leading Republicans are opposed to it. !
And there Is also a division OF opinion |
among Democrats. Twenty-eight Re
publican state conventions have in re-
cent months endorsed the tariff COM
mission principle, fifteen have endorsed
revision schedule by schedule, twelve
have kept silent, in eight there has
been no convention. and from one
there is no report. Most of the Demo
cratic state conventions have made no
mention Of the subject, but in Califor-
MIA and Utah the tariff commission
principle was endorsed. In three Of the
staes, Minnesota, South Dakota and
the tariff board has been
denounced by the Democrats as a sub
-erfuge.
LOnSwOrth's Bill.
Recent conferences between the
president and leading members of con-
sress have resulted in a strong DISPOSE
ion to concentrate about a bill pre- ,
'ented by representative Longworth, F.;
Who is a member of the ways and
means committee. This bill provides
or commission Of five members, with I
erms of six years, liberal salaries, and {
lmple powers to investigate persons or
'apers and to summon witnesses under I
'ath- 1t is generally supposed a tariff J
commission bill will be passed at this
ession Of congress. 1t is set down as /
oremoSt in the presidents program Of I
legislation which he wants enacted at {
his session. While the indications now '
avOr legislation, 1t is not to be for '
rotten that short sessions of congress 7
re prOverbial for achieving little in S
he way Of important general legisla- c
ion and there are rocks in the path on I