The Washington herald., 1911-01-13
Gentlemen Of the Tariff Commission AS


sociation:
I sincerely hope that your efforts here
may be successful. I do not understand
that you are here to advocate any eco
nomic theory to govern in the imposi-
ton Of customs duties. I do not under
stand that you are either a free trade
or q protective organization. What
do understand is that you are here to
insist that Congress shall provide for
itself an instrumentality by which 1t
may safely and certainly secure the
truth in respect to the operation Of a
general customs law, whether that law
is framed on the theory Of protection or
on q theory of a tariff for revenue only
You desire the establishment with gov
ernmental support of a source Of cor
rect Information as to those facts that
are important in determining the opera
ton Of customs duties upon the busi-
ness Of this country, which shall enable
any proper authority in the government,
whether Congress, or either House Of
Congress, or the committee Of either
House having charge Of tariff matters. or
the Chief Executive, at any time to pro.
cure statistical and other information as
to the cost of production of articles
abroad, the cost of production of ar
ticles heres and all the other facts which
are useful In framing tariff bill on any
economic theory.
Against Political Bias.
I understand your desire Is that this
body OF gentlemen, whether you call
them board, or commission, or an
ofiice. or an agency. shall make 1t their
business to collect this information con-
tinuousiy. 50 that their records after
they have been once brought down to
tho present time, shall thereafter be
added to from month to monthSand from
year to year, and shall be thus made to
contain the means of giving, promptly
upon request. a reliable resume Of the
existing conditions in respect to foreign
production. In respect to domestic pro-
duction. in respect to foreign prices, In
respect to domestic prices. and the
correlation between them, and the ef-
feet Of the existing tariff upon domestic
trade. Your hope would be that the
members appointed to this commission
would not allow political bias or ten.
dency or pet economic theory to aGfect
them in the accumulation and analysis
of the facts.
You do not desire, IL understand your
present resolutions. that these mer
should fx tariff rates or recommend
! 0SSS " OC 1OO UC8lTS Only
they should furnish the correct informa-
tion upon which the body constitutionally
charged with fixing tariff rates may prop
erly act. 80 that the public may have the
truth from the tariff commission, and
then advise itself how Congress shall
have acted with respect to that truthful
presentation OF premises for it, action.
You do not desire, II understand your
position, that the tariR board or CONE
mission should make an annual report as
II It were engaged In the initiative with
reference to changes Of the existing tar
III. The initiative In that matter Hes,
and should lie. with Congress.
But what ycu desire In that when Con-
gress. or either House Of Congress or in
proper committees, takes the initiative,
It shall have . reliable source OF infor-
nation to which to turn in order 70 know
whether changes should be made or
whether the existing conditions should
continue.
Nay suDpsrt Cseatien.
. Thsre are those who oepose The exist-
lng tariff and Oiticiss II seversay. There
are thess Who uphold Il - = fair meas-
me On the whole Nov II seems - me-
lha4 sasth may leg1cally and .pre1etiy
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