Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-10
70 IAE I Thrift / | /
OFT 0E P0u||CS
COMPREHENSIVE BILL PREPARE D
~ DoREMus, or MICHIGAN,
PROVIDES FOR COMMISSION. (.
METHOD FOR MEETING
FOREIGN COMMERCE RAIDS
Non Partisan Commission Intended in
Plan That May Have Endorsement
Of Wilson Administration-WouId
Give America Needed Weapon For
Retaliation For Unfairness.

Retaliation For Unfairness.
Washington, Feb. 10.-For the first
time in the history of American poll
tics sane and intelligent attempt Is to
be made to take the tariff out of pol
tiles" and give American business and
industrial life surcease from the vio-
lent and upsetting fluctuations of tax
rate fixed thru partisanship.
The author of the movement Is Rep
resentative Frank e. Doremus OF Mich
igan, chairman Of the democratic ma
tional congressional committee. In a
bill introduced by him he proposes to
establish tariff commission, as nearly
non partisan as possible, for the inves-
tigation Of facts, and in the same mea-
sure he clothes the federal trade COM
mission with power to fix rates within
certain constitutional limitations to be
laid down by congress. sa... r,--
Students Of the tariff in both political
parties declare Mr.. Doremus to be a
pioneer in a direction emitting him to
the support Of all who realize the evils
of using the tariff as political foot
ball. 1t Is asserted that business men
of whatever political affiliatton will
stand by the Doremus bill to man
when once they come to understand its
aims and purposes.
Must Block Commercial Raid.
1T is nto altogether new idea with
me-" said Mr.. Doremus. Il voted for
II tariff commission in the 62nd con-
gress. I regarded it as desirable at
that time. but now, with the European
war threatening to end with a CONNER
cial raid on the United States, believe
1t imperative. We must have a fleX-
ible and readily adjustable bulwark
against such a raid. If we do not, we
shall be the victims of our own inca
pacity.
1.-THE federal trade commission al
ready has powers qualifying 1T to ham
die some phases of a raid from Europe.
Therefore believe it to be the body
which should handle all phases. II the
tariff is to be one of the weapons,
then, under proper safeguards and lin
itations, this weapon also should be
placed in the hands of that commission.
Again I have in mind the deadly
blight which a general revision of the
tariff casts upon all our activities. For
six months to.a year everything stands
sui. washington S"dTHI3 Will DuSl-
ness men who come here to try to in
fluence the tax rate for one or another
Their anxiety in many cases is ex-
treme. Va.
Wants StabiIizing Device. ~
What I am seeking Is general gov
ernor or equalizer by means of which
we shall be protected against violent
extremes of taxation. As it Is now
with the tariff and ever-present issue
between the parties, no sooner does a
party return to power after being out
than it summons congress in extra ses-
sion for the purpose Of overhauling the
tariff from top to bottom. And from
the moment the control of the govern
ment changes until the revision of the
tariff is completed, business is stag
nant That regard the greatest evil
connected with tariff issue.
NY plan is to have congress do no
more. than lay down the general limi-
tations within which the tax shall be
fixed. Let it frame the general rule
that is to govern. Then let the federal
trade commission, using the facts
brought to It by commission, place the
rates at the point where they will do
the people of the United States the
most good and best care for the reven-
ues of the government.
Would Give Weapon Needed.
"A sudden onslaught from foreign
source intended to wipe out an Amer
lean industry, then would have to meet
the intelligent attention of the federal
trade commission armed with all the
weapons, including flexible tax rate
II, by reason Of British French or
German export bounty. the flexible tax
rate proves insufficient to check the in
vasion, then the commission can invoke
the sterner remedies placed within Its
command. It will have access to all the
guns in the armory and can use the one
which will serve the best and will not
have to use q 13-inch gun to kill a
sparrow"
The Doremus bill calls for a tariff
commission to be composed Of five
members no more than three to be Of
the same political party. The term Of
office = to be ten years and the salary
$4,000 q year.
Commissions Duties Defined.
The duties Of the commission are laid
down In the second section Of the bill
in the following language:
ITO investigate In connection and in
cooperation with the federal trade
commission the possibilities Of estab-
States and to recommend to the con-
gress the encouragement Of new indus
tries in all casesswhere natural condi-
lions, in the judgment of the commits
sion, justify the belief that such Indus
tries can be- made permanent. (This
refers to such enterprises as the manu-
facture Of dyestuffs.)
"To investigate the advisability of the
establishment by congress of maximum
and minimum import duties, within
which the federal trade commission,
under the authority of congress may
readjust such rates from time to time,
and to investigate all facts which in
the Judgment Of the commission may
assist the federal trade commission in
preventing the dumping of foreign pro-
ducts upon the American market In UNI
fair and destructive competition.
To Obtain Information.
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