New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-01
A TARIFF COMMISSION
A True Agency of Progress in In
dustry and Commerce.

To the Editor OF The tribune.
Sir: The Secretary of the Treasury made
a speech in Helena Mont, little while ago
which has not received the attention that II
deserves from men who are following closely
the attitude of the administration toward
matters Of very vital Importance to our ma
tional prosperity. On that occasion, in stating
that the administration is trying to take GER
tain fundamental questions (among them the
tariff out of politics, Mr.. McAdoo SAID:
There has been no real prosperity in the
United States in ten years. | don't care what
the politicians say. II is not partisan mat
ter. but an economic one. and don't believe
in attempting to make partisan capital out of
either economic or moral questions. Polt-
clans have gone up and down the country
telling US that their particular party could
bring prosperity. First it was the Repub-
leans, then it was the Democrats. The poll
ticians have been playing this game of see
saw to get Offices but their predictions and
promises are all bunk. We have had no real
prosperity in the United States for ten years,
because our business Outgrew the clumsy
financial system which we have been talking
about correcting for thirty years, but which
we did not get until President Wilson insist
ed on Congress taking it up as soon as the
tariff bill was out of the way"
Forward looking Americans have realized
iof many years that the tariff was not being
handled in this country as it ought TO be
handled. Now when you come right down 10
fundamentals what is the trouble? Are poll
ticians TO be blamed for wagng campaigns on
the basis of protection, or tariff for revenue,
or free trade? 1t does not appear that this
is an unnatural or improper course to pursue.
Protection and free trade are inherently po-
litica ISSUES. and as long as we neglect TO
establish definite tariff policy these matters
vii! aiwaya b. the subjecJ of agitation.
But does the real trouble lie here? Is it
not true that the American public has repeat
edly registered its views with regard to the
tariff only TO find after number Of years
that those views have not been carried out,
but, or the contrary. that the expressed will
Of the people has been covered up by COM
plicated and uninteligible series .! sections
and suD-sect0r5 o. various tariff acts. so that
the average man could no. possibly .ell
whether he got VIVA. nc voted or o. whether
lie had got something totally different?
lie Ieg. pol.t D. THAI 81 IS not now 50
mach the tariff a. it is tariff making that We
ua.t 20 tasc out OF politics. How are tariffs
made? The matter could not be bette SUM
married. than in the words Of Professor
Sesger. Of Columbia University. who describes
the process as follows in his Introduction to
Economic:
TO fully master any one %. these sched-
Jules and determine wha; races Of duty would
atord adeguate protection without uudu,y
b burder.ng consumer would require years OF
study OF the industries affected, roth at home
end abroad. TO fully master all o. them,
with the three thousand-odd different arti-
cles TO which they refer, IS task beyond
human capacity. Needless 20 say. Congress
I in drafting tariff bills makes 10 such am
bilious attempt. Instead IL contents itself
with taking the testimony OF interested per-
sons As to the amount o. protection their
businesses require. anu accepts their state
mcnts "a is guide in appocuoning protec-
tion 10 different industries.'
The Tariff Commission League believes
F that the country will suficicatly arouse itself
20 bring about the appointment of tariff
commission made up of men of the very high
est ability Such men would very soon come
to be relied upon BY the President and Con-
gress for information and advice in tariff
matters. Even the short-lived tariff board OF
/ Mr.. Taft gained considerable strength in
+ Washington. and It may be stated as fact
that It's Investigations so far IS it had pur-
sued them. were very fully ayaed Of by the
members Of the Ways and Means Committee
who framed the present tariff act.
. 1ier Of Influence IN the community are
coming in very striking way to realize that
7 the ;bsence of a dependable tariff policy in
re United States is certain 10 be productive
OF real and farreaching dangers as we enter
more extensively into international CONNER
cial affairs. Both IN connection with our for
l eign trade and also. as every one realizes, Ia
connection with our domestic business affairs
/ he failure TO put the tariff or a 'scientitc
basis has contributed powerfully 20 accentu-
ate that greatest OF all business dangers