The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-13


but misguided supporters Further
moro no boord Or commission can take
the tariff out of politics. Tho ,svytng
OF customs Duties IS Il leg.Slat.vo
power which cannot DO Delegated by
Congress. So lo1sg. therefore, as tariff
laws nr'c enacted tlasy Will hs tho OBJ
tect OF partisan discussion and no.
tiN.ty.
No ronSons exist for tho oontinualra,
OF tho present Tariff Board, and 1t Is
well that IT'S ex1steroo is nt AN ond
Tho Nscords o.. tMa members OF tho
board do not indicate thnt Prssldent
Taft 1nade amy very careful effort TO
secure persons Tval ose previous train
ing and experdcnoe qualified tlssm par
tlcularl5' for Study OF the tariff prob
lem Inssnd of devoting itself ex-
cll,sive1y- to the collection OF iafor-
NATION, the board sinoo It's creation
constantly played politics" by TIN,
Nntr;y conditions OF Its establishment,
the board also represented a partisan
point OF view. 1t could only. accord
Ing TO its own announcements. study
differences tn costs OF production here
and abroad. Suoh n scope OF work
1Gtsupposes the pIoteotlv1a principle.
In othnr words. tho board assumed
we need Z. protective tariff, nrrd 1len
sought 20 find out what amount o.
protection IS nscessary by contrasting
n
with those off aorctsn countries TO
consider work OF such Il restricted and
preconccived cirarAc;er, C. menus OF
finding out the Truth relative to tho
tariff Is. to say tho least, absurd.
Tho actual work OF the Tariff Board
also afforded no ground for granting
It e. longor leaso of lie. Tt mad. thre,
reTSol-s--ons on paper and wood pulp,
einot,rYr on the cotton goods, and a
third on tho WOODEN and wo1satld goods
industry. From n soicrrt,afDo stand point.
these reports ana unpardonaols They
show a ucrnp1ete ia'olc OF ability in COL
lect-ns and preparing Industrial and
coTnmorciei factstor publication Tlrcar
& arrangement Is confusing and they
contsAn & mass OF undigested and ,r
relevant mapeu'lal. These reports also
boar urrnistakablc signs Of "blun' and
a lack of sincerity. Tho value OF the
Information cannot 10 ascertltnad be
cause no clear sratament can oe found
as It's aource and extent. AS q matter
OF fact, the reports OF the board NAV
be epltomized in tho statement that
they consist OF Soma claibor.ata anal
Uses OF expenses Of producing goods
IN this country with som. scattered |
ana untrus;worthy comparisons OF a |
similar kind gathered IN foreign coun-
tries. no this has been added com |
nMation of statistics from secondary |
which weos already available. !
relative to imports. exports, production
and distribution OF certain commodi- |
rIcs. TINS findings of the board cannot
DO used az a basis OF Legislation.
The DemocrNtio leaders IN the House
ham, steadfnstly declined to give the
Tariff Boa'ni ano ther appropriation.
It's continuance would han. meant u
waste Of public money as well rs Z
lelay In real tariff revision to continue
he 'worls OF tho board. If money is
appropriated for the collection q, IN
'ormation relat!ye TO the tariff, f..
'hou.d not he given to any board or
commission. Such a body or group of
non, however lofty ana dislnterastcd
heir purpose Mas he, IS fundamentally
infltted for liesearch and Investigation.
commission like tn, Interstate, Com
nerce Commission IS satisfactory or
ranf2atton for dealing with problems
which require judicial consideration
md adjustment. 1t Is far better. how
'VeT. to centraldae IN ono man TN, di-
cotton Of any work having 10 do with
-hs collection Of Industrial and com /
nerctal data. II an appropriation
should be made FOR further study of .
the fncts underlying our tariff problem.
Il should he for tho purpose of estab- /
lshlng a bureau or division Of tariff
or industrial rosealrch in tho Depart |
ment Of Commerce and Iaror. The
present Tariff Board is practically dis |
continued. ana no other board or com
mission should DC established to take
It's place.
THE HOUSE or JOY.
Recently We have taken occasion to