Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-24
EXPERT TARIFF BOARD,
WILSON'S PLAN, MEETS
GENERAL FAVOR HERE
Some Manufacturers, However,
Would Not Trust Democratic
President to Name
Commission
ALBA JOHNSON APPROVES

! The news from Washington that the
| Wilson Administration is now ready "a
| take initial steps toward the formation OF
! permanent tariff commission, which in
effect will remove the tariff entirely from
| national politics and will place future
tariff legislation upon purely business
and economic basis, was received today,
with general approval by business and
political leaders in this city.
Nathan r. Folwell, president of the
Manufacturers Club. and a few others.
however, openly expressed opposition to
any commission which might be named
by President Wilson, or at his direction,
and declared that manufacturers would
have no faith in such a body.
The decision OF the Administration to
give its approval to the creation OF nom
partisan commission is said to have been
reached after consideration of the sltua-
ton which will follow the European war.
when legislation to safeguard Americas
commerce and industry will be impera-
tive.
The duties of the proposed commission
would be to collect information and to
coordinate with Congress in framing tar
III legislation.
BUSINESS, NOT POLITICS.
The view of Philadelphia business men
generally as expressed today Is that the
n
not political issue The period of com
mercial unrest, they feel will not end
until there is every assurance that tariff
tinkerers. serving partisan and not busi-
ness ends. are no longer in control. That
the commission should be created under
Democratic instead of a Republican
administration, they regard as a minor
consideration.
The group OF strong protestatlons
has hnr In
argues that the tariff cannot be taken
out of politics until the Democrats admit
the wisdom of a protective policy. Imme-
diate relief, they contend, should be given
the manufacturers and the appointment
of the commission could follow. If the
country has to wait for the appointment,
organization and report of a tariff COM
mission before any relief is obtained.
several years would be lost, they say,
and irreparable damage would be done in
the meanwhile.
ALBA JOHNSON APPROVES.
Alba b. Johnson. president of the Bald
win Locomotive " orks and a prominent
Republican, gave his unqualified indorse-
ment TO the Wilson proposal Mr.. John
son at the same time suggested that other
Republican manufacturers might not be
fully in accord with his views on the
matter.
THE tariff" he said, "is a matter of
business and not Of politics, / have been
working for eight years toward the ap-
pointment OF such a commission which
will proceed on sound business and eco
nomic principles In all tariff revision. Ii
President Wilson and the Democrats will
create the commission, so much the bet
ter; II not. We will hammer away until
We find some one who will"
Views similar in tenor We're expressed
by Charles j. Cohen. a member OF the
board Of directors of the Philadelphia
Chamber OF Commerce. ana who retired
from the presidency OF that body today
after serving in that capacity for three
years. DIR. Cohen pointed out that COM
meree chambers in all parts OF The United
states had passed resolutions recommend
ing that the tariff be taken from poll
tics * ls only matter OF sound busi-
ness sense, he observed, that business
men aud not politicians should dom nate !
the economic and business Interests of !
tie country.