The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-25
LIN Defense Of the Commission of
Tariff Experts.
3 NOT EXPERTS.
But They Are Honest and Nom
partisan, He Says.
Criticism He Declares Is Due to
Political Interests.

St Louis, Sept. 25.-In his speech here
President Taft declared that attacks
made upon the taiff board were not
candid criticisms of that body's work
based on that showing made but came
from the thoughtless heat of political
controversy, and ought to have no
weight with unbiased friends Of the
public weal;'' upheld the wisdom of his
selections for the tariff board and an
nounced that he never expected to see
the tariff taken so far out of politics,
that it would not be the subject of po-
litical debate. He agreed that the
members of the board were not tariff
experts but said that it was better SO.
Mr.. Taft denied that the board was
partial and pointed out that Of its to-
tai membership of five, only two could
really be termed members of a political
party Two others were professors,
skilled in economics and the third was
as editor Of a stockman's journal.
The presidents speech follows;
My Fellow Citizens: The issue which
has arisen in respect to the wisdom
and propriety of the veto of the three
tariff bills which passed congress at
the last session and were presented to
the executive for signature has
ever before the question of the neces-
sity for a tariff board to advise the
executive and congress as to the fcts
in reference to the present operation
of an existing tariff and the future op-
Grafton of a proposed tariff.
The heated discussion that followed
the passage of the Payne bill developed
among the people of this country a
deep feeling that never again ought
tariff legislation to be attempted with
out a fairer ard more impartial inves-
tigation than had been possible under
fhn zVCfn14a which ureUaf1pd in the
making of the Mckinley bill. the Will
son bill, the Dingley bill, and the
Payne bill. These bills were prepared
by men of great ability and large ex-
perience, but they were members of
congress. The investigation devoted
to the work did not exceed more than
a few months. the witnesses who were
called were generally interested in the
matter and prone to give a colored
view of the facts in reference TO the
protection needed the tariff itself was
a complicated matter. the terms used
were not easily understood, and while
the question was of the utmost import
auce to the people at large the people
what the changes were which were be-
ing actually effected and what their
operation would be either upon the in
dustries protected or upon the cost of
living to the consuming public.
This sense of inadequacy of informa-
ton in respect to the operation of
tariff changes naturally reused the
business men of the country, who
could appreciate more than any other
class the possible injury and disturb
ance Of business by i1l-advised legis-
1ation to the necessity for a reform.
An association was organized among
the comm ercia1 bodies of this country
to promote the passage of a bill pro-
viding for a permanent tariff commits
sion or board which should be con-
stantly engaged in the investigation
into trade relations, should have on
hand the data from which the COM
paratfve cost Of production of dutiabIe
articles at home and abroad could be
promptly stated, could furnish to con-
gress the revenue-producing capacity
of all rates of duty, and give all the
other facts with reference to the effect
of the operation of the tariff which
congress ought to know in determining