The sun., 1915-11-15
An Attempt TO Re Of Assistance &
Senator Gore.

Senator Gore.
We are honored by request from
Senator GORE to suggest TO him any
change which. in our opinion, would
Improve the working efficiency OF his
bill creating an International Trade
and Tariff Board. This measure was
introduced by Mr.. Corr last January;
md rs he has beer reelected from
Oklahoma for the term running TO
1927 he doubtless intends to push It
ut the coming first session Of the
SiSty-fourth Congress-
A careful and respectful examina.
tion Of Senator CORES plan to remove
tariff making from partisan politics
and 10 establish 1t upon basis Of
intelligent investigation and scientific
construction. at an estimated addi-
tional expense to the Government Of
100000 year. inclincs US to the
opinion that the intelligent Senator
might greatly improve the bin by
dropping 1t altogether.
First. as to non-partisanship:
The six members Of the tariff boarNl
are TO be chosen for especial fitness /:
nominated by the President and con-
frmed by the Senate. The term Is
six years. Senators and Representa-.
tives are excluded. Not more than
three members Of said board shall be
members Of any one political party"
1t IS evident that II the membership
were confined to the two principal
party organizations, Republican and
Democratic. Mr.. GoRE's tariff boa rd
would always be in n deadlock politi.
cally on the other hand President
and Senate belonging to party which
already had three members OF Mr.
GoRE's non.partisan tariff board could
erect that moiety membership into
a plurality at any time when the ex
piraton Of a term permitted by the
simple eXpedient OF selecting for the
vacancy Prohbitionst, Lab0rite
a Socialist. or n member Of any out
lying organization.
Next. as to the scope OF the pro
posed boards operations and Its &C
tual power in influencing the forma
ton Of the schedules:
As might he expected OF so good &
constitutional lawyer as Senator GORE
his bill makes no attempt to inves
the proposed international trade ant
tariff board with any legislative pow
era whatever. Nor would he give 4
any practical functions Of any sor
beyond the ordinary warrant to con
huct Investigations TO hold hearing
und compel testimony, to meet regn
larly four times q year. or oftener 4
the President calls, ana to travel. II
the person Of the members or tn
boards employees, anywhere In thi
country or abroad IN pursuit Of IN
formation. The duties Of the board o
SIX commissioners at $500 each ar
ITO study and investigate; TO re
port from time to ume": ITO con'de
tho conditions Of domestic and FOL
eign commerce and ways and mean
for presenting the same: "to submit
recommendation for the proper ea
pansiou Of foreign commerce.; IT
ronder such other assistance TO tn
committees Of either house Of Cor
kress as may be from time to tim
required'; and so on, vaguely an
Unfortunately throughout marching Of
ders that march to no definite O
practical conclusion.
Now. THE Sun is not greatly In
pressed with the Importance Of ado
ing thus extensively and ostents
t1ously to the fnngoid growths upo
the body polite. In recent year
there has grown up In new depar
ments OF the Government. In con
missions. in bureaus. a stupendot
mass of machinery for the collectlO
II information. for study, investig'
ion. recommendation and repOrtin
from time to time" Some OF II
vspfu: much Of 1t is unproductive (
rnSults except as 1t cnuses the Go
,ruwcnt printing presses to eroan o'
lllifionHl burdens on the taxpayer
III. Junk shops yawn for a very lari
ucrcentaee Of the laborlously n
uulrcd ard imperfectly coordinate
output. Much of this tremendous
,ostly research and collection cou
no dispensed with. Much Of 1t
unfrullful The entire system, II
l;nown to the governmental mctho'
# n generation ago. is coming to
III" one of those deficiency devjc
of calaognG and cross referencil
which are ~ elaborate that in &
ed they become the master instead
the servant Of tn" establishment.
We share with most business m
Of intelligence and many broad mind
statesmen the conviction that II
things are more desirable for Il
country than the complete divorce
tariff making from partisan Politi
A measure promising substantial pr'
fcss IN that direction would rccei
pur hearty support
Such measure, however, to