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

, which the commission idea NAV stumble
before March T.
The constitution of the United States
says that all bills for raising revenue
snaH originate in the house Of repre-
sentatives- This means that no other
body can originate a tariff bill. Many
argue that in view Of this provision OF
the constitution and because of the fact
that the ways and means committee Of
the house really frames and presents
any tariff bill that is acted on in the
house, tariff commission is a useless
appendage Of government. They main
tain that regardless of any facts a tar
IF commission may present 1t will
nevertheless be incumbent on the ways
and means committee to obtain facts
for itself and present a bill to the
house based on its own investigation,
not those of any commission outside of
the house of representatives. Those
who believe in free trade quite natur-
ally hold that there should be no tariff
and therefore no need for a tariff
commission Many prOtectioniSts think
that tariff commission would tend to
keep the country's tariff policy unset
tied.
On the other hand, 1t is urged in sup
port Of a tariff commission that the
committees of congress which are con-
cerned with the framing and shaping
OF tariff bill have no time to delve
into the facts needed to form the basis
of a tariff measure It is urged this
is something that can only be done by
experts Supporters Of tariff com
mission are fond of citing the troubles
Of the senate finance committee, and
Of the ways and means members, in
considering the Wi1son-Gorman tariff
bill Senator Vest of Missouri. said he
looked back on the debates and confer
ences as nightmare from which he
had never recovered. He and repre-
sentative Wilson got facial erysipelas
and sat opposite each other with faces
painted with iodine and looking like
indians ready for the war path; senator
Harris broke down from overwork;
while senator Jones was attacked by
angina pectoris and had to travel
abroad to get relief
4 Former Tariff Commission.
While congress apparently is get
ting close to the point OF providing for
g permanent tariff commission, this IS
not by any means the first Of the tariff
commission ideas in the United States.
AS far back as 1882. in the administra-
ton Of president Arthur, a tariff com
mission was established. It made a
careful study Of various phases OF
the tariff question lasting about five
months. and then made a lengthy re-
port Of IS pages to congress- Accom-
panying its report, was a tariff bill
Congress then proceeded to enact the
tariff law Of 1888. It ignored the rec
concentrations Of the commission to
large extent. though it did not do so
entirely, as is sometimes ALLEGED
The fact that congress did not follow
many Of the recommendations OF the
commission of 1882 often has been cited
as a reason why the commission plan
in practice viii not be found success
full To this. the reply Of the advocates
OF the commission is that IT is not now
to have a commission report
but merely facts.
leaving action entirely to congress
The Present Board
In the last session OF congress. pro
vision was made for the existing tar
if board. President Taft has appoint
ed thereto professor H c. Emery.
James B. Reynolds and Alvin H San
ders. This board with the aid Of nu-
merous experts, is now investigating
production cost here and abroad. It |
viii from time to time report to the !
president the cost OF articles which /
have protective tariff. It's purpose is I
not to make recommendations. It's ex- !
perts are busy in the field finding out /
costs from the books Of manufacturers /
and from other available sources It /