New Britain herald., 1916-03-27
TARIFF COMMISSION
 0F SIX MEMBERS
Rainey Introduces Bill Calling for
 Permanent Non-Partisan Board S10,000 A YEAR SALARY

Hcars-NIust Not Have Been NIem-
 bers of Congress or Senate-Com-
 mission to Have Full Power
 Washington, March 27.-A revised plll Tor permanent non-partisan ts'rll commission on lines suggested oy rfeSldent Wilson, and which it is sald' has received his full approval, was Introduced in the house today by Representative Rainey of Illinois, ranking democratic member of the ways and means committed
 The bill,' MT. Rainey declared, in a statement accompanying the meas ure, will be supported by all demo- cratic members of the ways and means committee, and it is hoped it. will receive the support of the repub- llcan members of that committee. The bill is as nearly non-partsan as 1t is possible to make it.
 Six Commissioners Called for.
 The bill would provide for the ap- pointment of six commissioners at Sl0,OOO year each, no more than three of whom can belong to the same political party. The first ap- continents are to be made for two, four, six, eight, ten and twelve years, The chairman and vice chairman must be appointed biennially, accord ing to the terms of the bill
 The duties of the commission are to investigate the administrative and hscal effects of the customs laws of this country, relations between the rate of duty on raw materials and finished products, effects of ad Yalorem and of specific duties, all questions relative to the arrangement of schedules and classification of articles in the law, and to put all in formation in it's possession at the dis posal of the president, the house ways and means committee and the senate committee on finance.
 Power To Investigate.
 The bill would give the commission, full power to investigate the tariff re- la ations between the United States and foreign countries commercial treaties provisions the effect of export bounties, preferential transpor- tation, the volume of importations compared with domestic production and of conditions, causes, and effects relating to competition of foreign in dustries including cost of production and dumping.
 The need of protecting trade secrets and processes is recognized in provi- sion of $1,000 fine or Imprisonment for one year for any member or en- ploye of the commission who divulges any secrets of the commission.
 Added to Omnibus Bill.
 Representative Rainey said the bill
 vi cuses although to save time it prob ably would be added to the omnibus revenue bill. Because it is hoped to make the commission permanent, he d declared, the bill provides for an an nual appropriation Of $3O0,VoO 10 meet it's expenses
 "The measure, in my judgment, in sures in the future tariff stability, and whenever revisions appear to be nec- essary, it will make it possible to make them intelligently," said MT. Rainey. If enacted into law, it will come as near removing from the tariff unfair and unreasonable parti- san action as any measure yet con- 
 The measure would give the com- mission full power to compel the at tendance of witnesses, and give them access to and the right to copy any document of any individual or bus mess concern in the production or sale of any article under lnvestlga- tiOn.
 No person could be appointed to the commission who has been elected or served either in the house or senate. All employees except secretary to the commission and a clerk to each commission would be placed in the classlhed service under the terms Of the bill.