Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-08-18

an impartial ascertainment Of facts
before any new revision was evidenced
by an effort to pass q tariff commits.
sion bill IN the short session Of the
Sixty-hrst congress, in which many OF
both parties united. Such a bill pass.
ed both houses.
1t provided a commission OF Ave
members to be appointed by the presi
dent, not more than three OF whom
were to belong to the same party, and
gave them the power and made 1t their
duty TO investigate the operation Of the
tariff, the comparative cost of produc-
! ton at home and abroad and like mat.
ters Of Importance in fixing the terms
Of O revenue measure and required
them to report to the executive and to
congress when directed. Several not
vital amendments were made in the
senate which necessitated a return of
the bill to the house, where, because
Of the limited duration of the session,
a comparatively small minority were
able to prevent its becoming a law,
On the failure of this bill l took such
steps as 1 could to make the tariff
board l had already appointed a sat
~isfactory substitute for the proposed
tariff commission.
An appropriation of S225,OO0 to con
tinue the work until June 80, 1912,
had been granted by congress In the
alternative. to be applied to the board
I had appointed, unless a tariff com
mission bill was passed. In this ap-
preparation bill the nonpartisan tariff
commission if created and appointed
was directed to make a report on
Schedule X by Dec. 1, 1911.
Accordingly / added two members
to the tariff board from the opposi-
ton party and directed the board to
make report on Schedule x by Dec. /
next. The board differs in 20 way
from the tariff commission as It would
have been, except in It's power to sum-
mon witnesses, and l am advised by
the members Of that board that with
out this power they have had no diff
Guilty In securing the information they
desire.
LAC bOA1u AOOh bOult IlOIllS ~ AZ
vestigate the methods pursued IN other
countries in procuring information on
tariff subjects and to organize its
force. In October, 1910, its work Of
investigation began with a force of
forty that has now increased to eighty.
In addition to the glossary" which
Is near completion, and other work
connected with furnishing tnforma-
ton IN connection with the enforce
ment of the maximum and minimum
clause of the Payne tariff act and In
to the Canadian reciprocity
measure, its attention has been espe-
directed to comparative cost IN
Ter Schedule K wool and woolens),
lnder Schedule NJ paper and pulp
nd under Schedule 1 Cotton manu-
actures).
The report On Schedule NJ pulp and
aper) has already been sent to con- {
ress. Full reports on wool and cotton l
i'll be submitted to congress in De I
d
I have also directed an Investigation y
TO the metal and leather schedules. l
.e results of which It is hoped can .
: submitted to congress at its first l,
gular session, In time to permit their Il
N e9-B rrr Teg1sT5r7e acFf0T7
ecessary. Z
The Organization known as the Tariff /
Commission association, made up of l
representatives. Of substantially all the t
commercial bodies Of the country for
he purpose Of securing the establish
Of a permanent tariff commits
sion, applied to me for an opportunity
TO Investigate the methods pursued by
the tariff board This was glad to
grant, and a very full report Of the
competent committee Of hat associa-
ton concluded as follows:
In conclusion our committee finds
that the tariff board is composed of
able, impartial and earnest men, who
are deVoting their energies u~nreseryed-
ly TO the work before them; that the
staff has been carefully selected FOR
the work in view, 1s efficiently organ-
lied and directed and includes a mum
Der Of exceptionally competent tech
nical experts; hat the work Of the
board, vast and intricate In detail, Is
already highly organized, we'll sys-
tematzed and running smoothly and
that congress and the people can now
await the completion Of that work
with entire confidence; that 1t Is pro-
crossing as rapidly as consistent with
proper thOrOughness and that 1t will
amply justify all Of the time and ex-
pense which It entails. We believe
that the value Of the work when com
pleted will be so great and so evident
as to leave remaining no single doubt
as to the expediency Of maintaining
II as a permanent function Of the gov
eminent for the benefit of the people"
I have thus reviewed the history of
the movement for the establishment
Of q tariff commission or board in or
der to show that the real advance and
reform In tariff making are to be found
in the acquiring Of accurate and TN
partial information as to the effect of
the proposed tariff changes under each
schedule before they are adopted, and
further TO show that If delay in the
passage Of a bill to amend Schedule
X can be had until December CON
gress viii then be in possession Of a
full and satisfactory report upon the
whole schedule.
This brings me to the consideration
Of the terms Of the bill presented for