The Washington herald., 1911-01-10

! of administration, a new government.
that by this time would have been at
| least framing a bill to give the people
what they wanted. If with us a political
party that is halfway out of power is to
take advantage of our system. pull itself
together, and throw obstacles in the way
of reform, then there would seem to be
nothing left but for the people in NJ to
| complete the work they were only able
to halfway accomplish in the last cleo
| ton. There are East and West not only
insurgent politicians. but insurgent vot-
ers. and what these voters want is relief
from tariff burdens, certainly not COM
mission. if it is to work for delay.
! A commission, even il it were all-pow-
erful at home and abroad and could
really give scientifically the exact
costs of production everywhere, could
not even then solve the tariff problem,
because costs of production differ in
various countries abroad and in various
localities here, as do costs of transpor-
tation between various points abroad and
various points here.
There is, however, undoubtedly a wide
spread and perhaps well-founded belief
that a body Of experts. whether called
board or commission. could give approxi-
mate information that would materially
aid a Ways and Means Committee in the
framing of a tariff bill. Such experts.
men VINO nave StuOleO ana written Oh
tariff questions. could report
(a) As to what American products are
absolutely or to such extent as to materi-
ally raise prices. under the control of
monopolies, as well as the extent to
which such control affects prices.
90 The differences between the cost Of
products at home and abroad.
(c) The apparent effect on wholesale
prices at home and abroad Of the duties
hv, hA irIa Wilson
and the Dfngley laws, respectively. (This
simply a scientific compilation Of sta
tistics.)
The commission should have in its
composition. q due proportion Of men
who like Prof. Taussig, of Harvard, are
known as tariff reformers, and 1t should
be given no power the attempted exercise
Of which could be availed Of as a plea
for delay, and especially no power to
litigate.
its reports, we see. are to contain only
information, but they should also give.
when practicable. data, witnesses to
verify. and reasons to sustain conclu-
sions of fact.
The commission should report, as
whole or by subcommittee. when nee
essary to avoid delay, directly to the
Ways and Means Committee. and its
members should be at the call Of that
committee or Of the Finance Committee
Of the Senate when there is q tariff bill
properly before it.
With some dinhdence 1t il here sug-
gested that the acceptance or rejection
Of conditions somewhat like those above
indicated would test the question whether
the political development" described by
Mr.. Sanders means business or whether
IL means delay.
All this, however. win not take the tar
III permanently out Of politics. No ques-
ton is more purely political than tax
stion and It's policies. The tariff. though
sometimes obscured by the slavery ques-
ton, was . national issue from 1916
when manufactyrers combined to pre-
vent the lowering Of customs duties I'M
posed during the war Of 1sl4 until the
passage Of the walker law Of 1911. which
20, satisned both consumers and produe-
@s that Il did for years eliminate the
tarin issue from politics.
After the civil war the experiance OF
10e was repeated. Producers combined !.
to prevent the lowering Of var dulles ON 4
imports. From that day to sthin. though
ooecwed nfs4 by. rscoastructjon, then
By appeals TO sectioDal aulmog1ties, ana
Inter b. the silver Queetioe. The Har19|
has ben naAileai nsue. and sueh 4
uat felain g1fG asue ~ Ne ~