Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-11

speakers.
To voice the demand more forcbly than
ever before for a permanent tarif COM
mission. Senator Albert j. Beverage
Representative Samuel W. Mccall. Prof
Henry c. Emery. chairman of the presi-
Dental tariff board: Henry L. Miles and
John Chandler Cobb of the National
Tariff Commission Association and Allen
RioIey Foote of the International Tax
Association were the spokesmen of the
commercial interests of the United States
at the opening session of the convention
of the National Tariff Commission Asso-
citation this morning in Columbia Theater.
These demands were backed by the
presence OF nearly 1000 delegates from
every part OF the nation. and even from
far Hawaii. representing sovereign states,
municipalities, commercial bodies and
business interests of every sort. Among
them were men prominent in commercial
Affairs. legislators, political economists
and others of national reputation.
Two hundred thousand individuals.
firms and manufacturers are represented
at the convention by delegates from IL
trade organisations. representing quar-
ter, of the number in existence In the
United States. Hundreds of millions OF
dollars. Invested In business enterprises
is behind the movement. 49,
In sy.eech and discussion, tariff, politics
and the consideration of schedules were
barred The activities of the convention
we're confined to the general proposltloh
tr a permanent tarif cOmnlissicn
To define This policy. and the scope oI
Tho, convention the following resolution
was adopted:
Want Permanent Commission.
That as the purpose OF TINS conVeh-
tin in the discussion and advocacy OF
the creation by Congress OF a permanent
tariff commission. no discussion OF tarin
nol,,ics or tariff schedules shall be in or
der. and that the presiding officer De re-
oues,ed and instructed to rule accord
ingly"
the aim of the convention. to call into
ax atenca a permanent tariff commiss on,
non-partjsan In personnel charged with
,he duty of investigating trade condi-
.ons ali over the world. gathering sta
,isttcs on the costs OF productions, ara
20 make reports and without legislative e
over. was explained by President Cobb
Assurance that Congress would pass a
,aw creating such a permanent tarin
commission was given by Senator Bev-
eridxe. How such a commission could do
its work, and asserting that these labors
were possible of performance, was the
substance of Prof. Emery's address, eX-
planning the workings of the presidential
tariff board as the existing model of a
permanent commission.
The concentration OF business sentiment
and public sentiment for a permanent
commission and its organization into a
compelling force. as represented in the
work Of the association. was the theme
Of Mr.. Miles Mr. Mccall discussed a
plan Of legislation and demanded con-
tinuance OF House control over tariff
laws.
Must Limit Powers.
That it would be futile to give TO a per-
manent tariff commission legislative pow
ers or functions other than those of in
vestigating and reporting. Prof. Emery
declared to be his fixed opinion The es-
tabishment OF any temporary boaru
would be a waste Of public money and its
findings would be unheeded, he said
President Taft's attitude, in discussion
Of the tariff question with the head o,
the tariff board. was quoted:
Il do not care what the tariff is 50
long as it is q good tariff
\ permanent tariff commission IS Ger.
tain, said Senator Beveridge. He saw in
this prospective triumph q new achieve
ment for public opinion. For organizing
public opinion into an overwhelminf
force, as IL had never been ORGANIZED
before In the United States. Mr.. Bey.
er.dge gave credit 10 the National TART,
Commission Association He considered
the coming victory Of public opinion q
greater victory than for the idea IL ad
vocated.
The convention was called order a,
l0:<5 O'Clock. with President John Chand
Ter Cobb in the chair. After the inyoca
zion by Rev. Ulysses G.. b. Pierce or
ganization was promptly effected. witt
Henry T. Wells as secretary OF the con
vention.
President Cobb, in a brief address re-
viewed the history of the movement 70,
a permanent commission. The Opera
tions OF the presidential tariff board wer,
praised by Mr.. Cobb. He complimentet
The personnel OF the board.
Introducing Prof. Emery. president O
right man in the right place.
Prof. Emery said:
Prof. Emery's Address.
The tariff board and its work up 4
date are purely the creation of the Presi
dent The act gave him sufficient an
thority but placed no obligation upo
him. All that has been done in this di
rection is due to his appreciation of tn
problem and mis- earnest and courageou
/. determination to use every effort to Sc
cure unbiased and impartial informatio
regarding the tariff.
Let me say two things: First. that tn
appointments were in no sense OF politi
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