New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-25
COMMON SENSE NINS.

The unanimous action Of the Ways
and Means Committee OF the House in
reporting Il permanent tariff commission
bill smooths the way for the passage
at this session of Congress of measure
carrying into effect President Taft's re-
peated and urgent recommendations.
Both parties having agreed TO accept the
Presidents suggestions. there will he no
difficulty about securing vote in the
House within n few days. either by
unanimous consent or through 3 sus-
pension Of the rules. Consideration in
the Senate may be harder To obtain, for
Il small minority in the upper house can
exercise q practical veto on legislation
i'm the closing weeks of a crowded short
session. Mr.. Bailey. has said that he
will see to it that no tariff commission
law goes 70 the President for signature
before March / next Yet the Texas
Senator self-willed and proof against
conviction as be often is. is not likely
Ia oppose his personal objections TO the
plain wish of his own party in both
/ houses. rs well as 10 the desire of a
Republican legislative majority and a
Republican administration. He could
not do so without Subiecting himself TO
/ the charge of trying TO Illustrate both
| Democratic and Republican plans for
| the introduction Of more rational meth
DDS Of tariff revision.
The agreement of the House commit
tee on a commission bill is another vic
tory for the President. He has Jealous.
" labOred TO overcome differences of
opinion among Republicans in the House
and 10 commit dhe majority there 10 a
measure giving a statutory status TO the
present tariff board. which exists only
by virtue Of an executive order and a
lump sum provision in one of the an
nual appropriation bills He gave his
approval 10 the LOngWOrtb commission
bill. but the Longworth plan was an
tagonlzed i'm the Ways and Means Com
mittee by Mr. DalZell'S less satisfactory
substitute. which a majority of the Re
publican members of the committee
seemed 10 favor 1t looked for a time
as if disagreements among the Republi-
can leaders would blast all hopes of ac-
ton at this session. But harmony has
now been restored by means of COM
promise. which has also obtained the
approval Of the Democratic minority.
The President has never despaired Of
bringing Congress 10 realize the advan-
tageS of creating n board capable Of
furnishing impartial information for use
il altering tariff rates, and his common
sense arguments have now prevailed
with Representatives of both parties.
Democratic support for a commission
bill is easily accounted for although the
Democratic minority I'm the House voted
almost sOldly last June against cOntinu-
ing the work of the present board. Then
the Democratic leaders took the ground
that Congress was entirely competent to
revise the tariff schedules without the
assistance Of commission attached to
the executive department. The cleo
tons Of 1910, putting the Democratic
party in control of the House from 19ll
IN 1913, and compelling that party 10
develop a tariff revision policy of its
own, sobercd the leaders, and they are
now glad 30 share their responsibility In
part with an outside agency whose
Judgment Is likely 10 command the re-
spect Of the public. Mr.. Clark. the
Speaker-designate. and Mr.. Underwood.
named as the chairman Of the next
Ways and Means Committee, realize