Evening journal., 1911-01-16
PERMANENT TARIFF COMMISSION.

HE movement in favor of permanent Tariff
n Commission TO help solve the vexatious
problems that surround the making of a tariff law
is gaining great headway. The convention of the
National Tariff Commission Association which
was held in Washington last week shows the wide
spread interest in the matter. The delegates to
the convention included hundreds of well-known
business men and manufacturers.
The addresses by Senator Beveridge and others
we're instructive and enlightening. Mr. Beveridge
dwelt upon the great force Of public opinion as in
nuencng the work of the national lawmakers
and in no instance has this force of public opinion
been illustrated better than in the agitation for
permanent tariff commission.
At the dinner Of the association President Taft
spoke heartily in favor Of such a commission. In
fact the movement for a commission is one of
the best things Of the Taft administration, and
Mr.. Taft will be remembered as the President who
brought to light this new plan of trying to regu-
late our tariff according to the best scientific
methods
The members OF the association are inspired by
the uncertainty and distress TO business caused by
constant agitatng of the tariff and the making
Of the tariff schedules by men who have no ade-
quate knowledge of the subject or by those who
arc desrous of getting all that they can get by
exploiting the public through means of improper
tariff schedules. The country is too large and too
many interests are involved TO permit of a con-
tinual agitation of the tariff
Most Of the Democrats arc not inclined to favor
revision by the commission plan They want to
whack at the schedules in hitand-mss manner,
and il is stated that the committee of the new
Congress, which will have charge Of the tariff will
be composed of all lawyers but one man. and
gentleman from Alabama. Mr.. Underwood, is to
be the head OF the committee This means that
such revision OF the tariff will probably be
proposed by the Democrats will not be
satisfactory and will probably be fol-
lowed by a revulsion Of feeling against the
Democrats such as marked the adoption of the
WiIson-Gorman tariff But there arc some Demo-
Gratis, including the recently elected Democratic
Senator from Ohio, Mr.. Pomerene, who favor the
tariff board idea The Democrats are likely 70
be much divided on the matter
One of the speakers at the Washington conven-
ton, Congressman Mccall Of Massachusetts,, made
good point when he said that our present method
Of considering the tariff is by loud assertions by
one party and equally loud dcnias by the other.
A permanent tariff commission would try to
arrive al the truth Of the difference in the cost
of production here and abroad by striking gen
cral average and the truth Of the disputed prob
lens would be aScertained or as the truth
as a body of scientific experts could reach. OF
course the Tariff Commission could act only in
an advisory capacity, as Congress has the final
making of the tariff, but the opinions Of the
commission would find ready support on the part
Of the public and would be the controlling factor
in influencing the congressman in making the
schedules