New-York tribune., 1915-11-04
FOR A TARIFF COMMISSION
Agitation for It's Creation Is Bear
ing Good Fruit.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: You will be interested to know that the
Tariff Commission League has met with
most enthusiastic response In all sections
of the country, and that the overwhelming
majority OF editorial opinion favors the
tariff commission principle. This applies n
papers representing all shades Of politiea
and tariff policy.
/ 1t is particularly desired to emphasize th'
fact that the Tariff Commission League has
not been organized for the purpose OF stir
ring up trouble. The league has active sup
porters in all the leading parties. The fun
damental reason for our existence IS 10 De
| found in the phrase of one of our advisory
committee, Mr.. Thomas A. Edison, who has
stated that the greatest problem now con-
| fronting the American people consists IN
proving that a democracy can be efficient II
the present tariff were working perfectly
| there would be no Tariff Commission League
/ In our opinion, however, the proof that the
present tariff, which we believe TO be one Of
the most conscientiously drafted we have
ever had in this country, is not working per-
/ fectly is the fact that the very men who
made it are now proposing changes in II.
From all over the country We are receiving
reported statements of Democratic members
of Congress who have one or more amend
ments to propose at the coming session.
II may as we'll be said at once that the
men who are giving their time and influence
to the work Of the Tariff Commission League
Ii. IL al taf
purely political questions OF protection, OF
tariff for revenue, or free trade, can ever Do
so sterilized as to render them non-politlesh
II will always be the duty OF the majority
in this country to elect Representatives IN
Congress pledged to some particular form o.
tariff, either high, low, or in between. These
are political questions. Men who have grown
up fghting over, free trade or protection are
not going to relinquish their fundamen'a'
beliefs or intrust them to a government com
mission.
When the country has stated its prefer
ence, however, who is going to carry out 'n''
preference according 20 orders! Ine carr!
ing out OF the decree of the people IS not
political question, but a scientific question
That is where the tariff commission pfopos'
tion comes in. Senator owen, who is mem
her Of the most important committees IN ine
Senate and one of the ablest Democrats III
nublic life. stated in my hearing only sno''
time ago that it was impossible for com
mittee of Congress TO produce really soe'
ouate and scientific tariff. The reason io'
this is that a Congressman is required O'
his duty TO his constituents to cover :"
enormously varied list Of subjects and 70
nerform an almost innumerable variety o.
unrelated services. Il is absolutely impos'
sble for him, in the brief time at his dis'
rosal and on the basis Of the often uh'e
liable evidence which is presented TO him' "
work out a fair relationship between u.
manv thousand items of duty, on the Oh,
hand and the commerce, the industry sh'
the income of the nation as a whole on wv
other. -,
II took the German Tarif ,onifn'ss'V,,
more than ten years TO go over the '"
once and work out a well organized Ss'.,i
on the basis Of which the Reiehstag 80
act The Chamber OF Commerce OF w.
United States, after a careful invesugsss
Of the matter has stated that IL eohs,o.
the well rounded policy OF Germany 70 ns
contributed very largely toward "'''"'
commercial strength. c.m
The men who are behind the l"rin ~,
mission League are very earnest ana ~
enthusiastic about the principle. Ing
thing they desire is that every man ~nv
part in shaping public opinion should NV
exactly the principles upon which We
working. We believe that the tarin comm !,
sion principle has never had fair ",N' "A
the United States on the basis OF V' -.
made up Of the best men avalIaoie ~ "a
country. with ample time TO cover tne slc
thoroughly 1Uf h"n"'
New York. Oct. 81 1915.