The Washington times., 1915-10-29
POwer Over Tariff
For Trade Board Is
Proposal Considered
Looking Ahead to After-the-War Conditions, U. S.
Lawmakers Considering Best Methods of Meet
ing Alterations in Fiscal Policies Which May
Be Made by European Nations.
BY JUDSON c. WELLIvER,

By JUDSON {
The tariff question, forced upon the
Democrats by the need for more rev.
enue. and pressed by Republicans with
the demand for more protection to
meet conditions following the war. Ia
growing more acute than Ia generally
realized. Some OF the most astute DEM
ocratic leaders are Getting worried lest
their party may take position that
next year will cost them dear in Presi-
Dental support.
Democrats are getting concerned es-
pecially over the chance that Republi-
cans may insist upon creation OF a
tariff commission. There are arguments
In favor Of that program such as never
before could be advanced. and their
force Is admitted by many Democrats.
All Industrial Europe 10 looking for
ward to post-bellum conditions, plan
ming such q mobilization OF industrial
forces as will make the new economic
warfare. for recovery OF old and seiz-
ure OF new markets. more determined
than ever in the past.
Britain May Alter Policy.
There Is serious possibility that in or
der to produce revenue Great Britain
may adopt in considerable part the
Chamberlain program. with the pro-
tective element marked. II that shall
happen under stress OF wars necessity.
It will be difficult to terminate the pol
Icy abruptly when the war ends.
Rather. Britain will face the need to
protect itself against the dumping OF
foreign products, turned out by the
| rehabilitated industrials OF countries
upIl-ntUh nnf NJ nj A oh
In tsriff and industrial policies In Eng
kand and Germany after the war would
entail the necessity OF this country i'm
mediately meeting new conditions.
Whatever the United States Is doing or
| ought to do. II Is very well known that
European countries are looking ahead
| to post-bellum times. and that already
the hest brains ana statesmanship OF
those communities are being set at the
| business of preparing for entirely new
| circumstances.
/ Dernberg Is Active.
| In Germany. for instance, II has been
| announced that a campaign for foreign
trade resumption and expansion Is or
ganizing. with our old friend Dernburg
At its head. He has been directing his
| energies especially toward South Amer
! ica a fact which probably has MS much
political as business Significance. for II
| points TO inc tHht tHt ntNt
| area Of German expansion Will be In
! that continent. Moreover the CONNER
| cisl authorities point to tho fact that
| Germany IL preparing trade cam
paign. az evidence that Germany "a SUI
| prcmely confident Of coming cut Of the
war In position to carry forward. with
| out serious interruption. the program
| Of trade expansion and even conquest IN
which she was engaged before tho war
| began.
| M. 49,. n.,,a,~ ,Lo,.t.o 20 MA n
| ming for her commercial future H. re-
ported constantly. There Is susnlcion
| abroad that the war may be followed
by policy OF freer trade In Germany
protection In England; that is. that each
| country Is getting ready to reverse i's
historic policy In this regard
U. 8. Must Meet Situation.
The mere possibility Of such changes
In the attitudes Of foreign countries u
enough to make apparent that Ameri'
can policy will have TO conform. Thai
program has been modified and in some
directions reversed under the present
Administration. 1t Is Impossible to make
certain what attitudes will be assumed
by other countries after the war: bu'
II is nointcd out by Repuhlicans thai
the particularly importa Mt thing Is to b'
certain that America shall be In posi-
tion TO take advantage OF whatever de-
velopments may come. and as fast al
This is the essence Of the tariff com
mission A tariff commission woult
keep In momentary touch with cond,
tions all over the world. II authorized
ns tariff commissions IN several snun
trice are. to make changes and ADJUST
mcu's IN rates as occasion mieht re
Uuirc. this country would be able t.
meet cxiCcncies as they would arise
Tn" necessity Of awaiting Conrressiona
action on the minute details would b
avoided.
Views of the President.
Whether under the circumstances. tn
Democrats will be able to stand on
AGAINST the arguments for such pro
Irram. Is yet uncertain. There Is Goo'
Democratic authority for saving tina
; the Republican arGumcnt In tayGr
preparing for after-thc-wGr condltioh
has appealed strongly to the imngina
e ,Dns OF n good many pcon'e: incluuIn
not a few Democrats. me tho"imr n
= affairs after the war has strongly I'm
= pressed people who have teen thinkln
, ~ the whole set of problems. Nefe
p uncertainties to tn" tariff issue ns ther
i are In Its presentation to the ConGrcs
4: which will meet in December.
President Wilson. In his letter 10 Gov
eTnOr COX ana IN Ine OnlN SFt'tH ~ il'
made on this SUI nj. conveyed the I'm
, prossion that ne 81 rks the country ha
! now all :hc instrumcntalities 1t need
1 for dcalnG With the tariff. There Is IN
bureau OF Foreign and Domestic Trade
whose powers are claimcd-by Demo
-, crats-to be wide enough to enable 1t I
. investigate and report concerning tarii
u matters.
e There is. further. the Federal trad
n commission. with still moro swccpin
:. powers in some objections Either o
r both of these might be considered IN
vested with the authority to asccrtal
facts: but neither has any authority