Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-13
aShington
w LETTER
BY Fl. B.. WALKER
COMMERCE BUREAUS TEST

Star STAFF Correspondent.
Star Bureau.
Metropolitan National Bank Bldg
.1a.u.


Secretary Redfields foreign and
domestic commerce bureau is
due to be put under the
magnifying glass when the tariff
bill gets before the Senate. Adyo-
Gates of a tariff commission. are not
ready to accept the administrations
! idea that the commerce bureau is
something Just as good" and they
are preparing TO ask many questions
as to how the bureau proposes to get
the details and accurate information
which the President and his secretary
Fof commerce say it will be able to
dig up.
Oscar Underwood's warning to man.
ufacturers that any attempt to force
any bogus panic or hard times OK
account of alleged injuries to the
business through tariff reduction will
be exposed through the commerce
bureau is taken with a grain Of saR
by Republicans and Progressives.
They point out that to secure the
detailed information that will enable
the government to show just what is
the investment in each business, how
much return 1t is making, and what
degree of efficiency is maintained In
the business, is undertaking a labor
bigger than any ever before attempt
ed by the government.
Many Experts Required.
Even if the detailed and exact in
formation necessary to demonstrate
whether or not a business Is being
properly conducted or not could so
readily Re secured. critics of the adj
ministrauon suggest. the securing
thereof is a job that will require a
remarkable organization of experts.
Government bureaus heretofore have
been fairly well equipped, but have
always been more or less handicapped
by the difficulty of securing high
class men to do expert work for the
small pay Offered. How MIR Red
field has secured, or expects to get
together in a short time, at the wages
the government pays, an organization
of experts who will be able to go into
the mills and factories of the country
and tell business men what Is wrong
with their business, is a problem that
is puzzling senators and others whose
experience in public life has been for
a longer period than Mr.. Redfield's..
Senate Debate Thorough.
From start to finish the Senate
tariff debate promises to be rather
thorough. The House debate was
very much of a cut and dried per-
Torrance. The Republicans and
Progressives offered no bill and few
amendments. With the knowledge
that the Democratic minority had
completed its bill in caucus and in :
tended to pass it exactly as 1t came
from caucus there was little incentive
for serious debate Add to this, that
the Democratic leaders held out con-
stantiy the threat Of gag rule, and
openly announced their intention of
shutting off all debate if members
talked too long or went too much
into detail. and it may be understood
why the proceedings in the House
were confined almost exclusively to
allowing those members who desired
to do so to make speeches for the
Congressional Record and for cam
paign use next year.
IT is almost as certain that there
will BIS no material changes in the
bill in the SShate as it was in the
House but there will be no gag rule
and no limiting of debate there. And
this means. that every schedule will
be analysed by the opposition, and
every new tariff and revenue policy
in the mea sure will be threshed out
fully.
dumping Clause" Target.
1t is certain. for Instance, that there
vii have to be a more complete, def
mite and satisfactory explanation of
the new Democratic competitive
tariff doctrine than has been offered
in the House. The income tax, and
especially its exemptions. will be put
on the fire-of debate and fried out;
the dumping clause" is due to be
made the target of a rapid fire of
oratory and criticism which will have
to be met. and several features of
the proposed new adminis@ Tive fea-
lures are likely to meet with a
searching inquiry that Will force their
raison d'etre and their probable eff
| feot. into the limelight.
| In the Senate the sponsors of the
bill will have to meet the challenge
and debate of some extremely able
and thoroughly prepared masters OF
| the tariff LaFollette. who Joined
forces with the Democrats in passing
the bills vetoed by Taft last year
viii be on the other side this year
and may be expected to find all tbs
loose joints and knotty places in the
measure. Cummins and Kenyon, O
Iowa; Norris. of Nebraska; Poin
dexter of Washington Clapp, o.
Minnesota; Bristow, of Kansas, ant
Gronna. of North Dakota, arr
Progressives who will declare them
selves ready to assist in the makini
of fair and honest tariff revision
but will demand the opportunity t
really share in the making of such
a law.
The real interest in the tariff fight
however. will be in the fight between
the Progressive senator's and thu
! Democratic sponsors of the Under
] wood measure.
WISE.