The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-24
In Minority Report, He urg-
es Establishment of a
Tariff Commission
SAYS BILLITSELF
PROVES CONTENTION
As Result Of Methods Used in Prepar.
ing 1t, He Declares Most of those
Who Endorsed it Have Only Super.
flcial knowledge OF Provisions.

Washington. April ga tariff COM
mission with power to elicit informa-
ton Is urged, q reasonable reduction
Of any duty obviously excessive is ad-
vocated and radical reductions not
founded on adequate information are
opposed in the minority report. pre-
sented to the house by Representative
Murdoch of Kansas, progressive MEM
ber Of the ways and means commit
tee.
Murdoch. in his report. asserted
that "tf there has been wanting proof
of the necessity Of tariff commits
sion. the pending democratic tariff bill
alone will supply--it.' 1t is charged
that as result of the methods used
In preparing theS bill, the few men
who drafted 1t are not warranted in
feeling the certainty as to it's effects
and most Of those who endorsed it in
have other thanFa superficial knowl-
edge Of Its provisions.
Hammond Opens Debate.
The tariff discussion is on again in
both the senate and the house. In
formal conferences between senators
We're held and the house met an hour
earlier than usual.
Representative Hammond of Min
nesota opened the days discussion in
support Of the bill. Hammond urged
middle course between high pro-
lection and absolute free trade. In
a detailed discussion of the rates, he
endorsed the placing Of flour on the
free list.
Cautions Democrats.
Representative Gardner, in debate.
their promises to the people, declaring
he believed that IL they did not, the
people would turn to the new progress
sive party.
Suppose that the democrats fail to
carry out their radical program" said
Mr.. Gardner, would the country turn
to our people? doubt it. The peo-
pie wish to try some of these new
ideas and are willing to risk the con-
sequences ser Of their proving disastrous.
The republicans have not given them
what they wish IF the democrats
follow our example, It. need surprise
NO one should the Eeople turn to the
progressive party. Tn fact. this is the
only direction in which can see a
future for that party"
In presenting the views Of the pro-
gressive party. Representative Kelly
criticised the present method of tar
if legislation. He said that the I'm
derwood bill, like every other tariff
bill in the history of the country. was
framed on a basis of insufficient in
formation and political and non-par-
tisan log-rolling." The solution of
the tariff problem. he declared. could
only be found in the adoption of the
progressive policy of placing the tar
iff in the hands Of capable non-par-
tisan commission.
Hampered by Actual Conditions.
Mr.. Gardner declared actual condi-
!tions greatly hampered the democratic
tariff for revenue without harming
legitimate industry.
"Clumsy as it is" he said. "mis-
leading to the farmer as it is. incon-
sistent and unjust as are many Of its
provisions, this bill nevertheless is an
attempt to carry out tho promises
which you democrats made to the peo-
pie. Therein lies the difficulty-your
promises conflict with each other.
You cannot by one and the same tar
iff keep up the price which the farmer
receives and yet reduce the price
which his customer pays. You can
not fairly impose free trade on the