Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-27
EMERSON SAYS time TO
STOP TARIFF T|NKERING
Igent of Tariff Commission League
Speaks to Committee OF Cham
her or Commerce.
lAvoRs HOARD OF EXPERTS

Eli Being Prepared Provides FOR
TariT Commission to Sit in WASH
ington, the Members to Draw S'2,-
600 Per Year Each.
Tariff tinkcr!ng must stop.
That is the slogan of the Tariff Com
Riission League, whose numerous aG-
ancc publicity agents are now carry
fng the campaign into every part OF
Ihc United states. The father of the
I'arin Commission League * james j.
pm, railroad Napoleon Of .hc North
Pest. whose long, wide and varied cx-
Serience with legislatures and con-
ressional bodies. taught him the falli-
fility Of lawmakers and the inadcquacy
n American made tariffs in the world
3trugSle for foreign trade.
Guy Emerson. one of the agents in
he employ OF The commission spent
csttrdny in Richmond. In the morn
ing he met Mayor Ainslic. ~ noon he
iSas entertained at "A luncheon given
the Business Mems Club, whcr" he
iscussed his mission with many prom
Inent business men aud members of the
ditOrial stats Of the press. IN the
| ftcruoon he delivered an address be-
= ore the Legislative Committee Of the
|hamber Of Commerce and solicited
| he Endorsement OF the chamber and
he other business organizations OF
Richmond for the bill creating the pro
oscd commission and DEFINING the
uties of the commissioners.
NETTING IN NEW YORK.
TODAY TO DRAW tP BILL.
| The measure has been drawn and
tentatively agreed upon By the exccu-
i i've board OF the league. At meet
ing to be held in New York to-day
ehnite measure. the bill 20 he CUB
3l!ttcd 10 Congress. VIII be agreed
= pon. II is this measure the league rs
skiing the business organizations OF
7he United States 10 support.
| Mr.. Emerson appeared before the
legislative committee OF the Chamber
II Commerce as the representative Oh
! Inc board OF directors OF the Tnrlf
Commission League. Arthur NJ Can
on. chairman OF tic committee. and
T. hree other m.mbcrs--T. Peyton Giles.
J.. A Hawkins and g g. Valentine
TENDED John stewart Ban Pres
on Bclvin and ". i. Richardson We're
resent by invitation.
Mr.. Emerson made q clear and con-
Use presentation Of Tie aims ana OBJ
. ccts Of the league HI suggested that
he committee recommend TO the cham
or that Il hearing be given some OF the
leagues speakers al one OE scEcra!
Xlectinrs 10 b. arranged for within the
eXt few months. mentioning aS one oil
. he speakers who might come to Rich
resident OF tic league. lie asked that
he chamber GO on record a. ndvocat-
- Ing the tariff reform movement char
nan Cannon said the committee would
. lake the matter under consideration
nd make AN carly report 10 the or
an'zaton.
lIHEE: RE:yIsIoNs IN
PAST THIRTY YEARS
Mr. Emerson directed attention TO
H. w.. Ia fhIrfN
he United states has mad three re-
: isious of the tar!n and TWO attempts
I revision
The results: Nobody satisfied. bus
mess periodically upset. hundreds OF
millions OF dollars Lost TO America,
nd distress caused 20 millions Of work :
ng people.
The remedy proposed: y permanent
,onpnrtisan tariff commission. sane
arm policy and an adjustment of tn"
present schedules.
Explaining tn" proposed bill. Mr..
Emerson said, the commission TO be
created would consist OF seven mem
8,ers. They are to he appointed by the
President OF the United states. The
Null term Of each is 10 be six years, and
he salary OF each member $1,000 a
ear ono member shall toe appointed
ach year At the beginning, there
lore, ;hc terms are 20 he graded. one
WlsfIl Der OF NIlt !l ~ % btAl't1
Tor q year. others for two. three. four.
live and sin Efficient members may
We thus retained in office At the cx
yiration OF their terms and the incth-
lent retired.
I'VE hope that Woodrow Wilson will
have the appointing OF the first board.
G remarked, parenthctically.
Il Under the present tariff system, he
argued. America cannot compete with
Treat Britain, France. Italy, Russia
M,r Germany in the fight for foreign
8rade. The war in Europe ana result
mt conditions have opened the eyes OF
he business people OF the United
ftates.
BUST R1IDRAE'T ORR
Il COMMERCIAL TREATIES
"In the last few MONTHS said Mr..
Emerson, there has been a wonder
Full awakening. Heretofore we have
been provincial in the trade world, be-
Ing content to deal among ourselves
We are beginning To realize that The
European countries have been better
trained in commerce and that we have
nderestimated the Importance OF eX-
bort trade. We realize that at tn.
Hose of the great war we Will have
o redraft our commercial treaties
)ur country will be In IA different and
more advantageous position to compete
with the world for foreign trade. The
Ind OF the war Will bring all entire
ca justmcnt OF tariffs in Europe. We
must tie prepared TO meet the new con
&itions.
Il eff the present tariff were adeqliat c
here would he no Tariff Commission
p league. But the league is IL ncccs-
5ity."
He explained at some length the
dunctiOns OF the proposed commission
FL could have no legislative power. nc
&ower. to make tnriffs. under the Con
Il titution. hut would serve as an adj
R'isory board The board would con-
Fist OF experts. with scientific training
|nen capable of dealing with tariff
problems. His experience as an en-
)loyce of the government, he said
gave him an intimate knowledge OF
: he insuifciency of the ablest of Sena
= ors and Congressman to deal with
= hese questions. The tariff commission
would supply the tariff makers OF the
uturc with the advice and informa
ion which they have so sadly lacked
o this time. Tho tariff schedules now
= n effect. Mr. Emerson said, were com.
,ilcd In Il haphn2ard way.