The Washington times., 1916-01-25
WILSON WILL Have
TARIFF BOARD BILL
.INTRODUCEDATONCE
Wants Commission Of Five to
Seven Members to Report on
Trade and Production.

President wilson will have introduced
In Congress- this week bill creating
a nonpartisan tarifI commission of from
fve to sever members with powers to
Investigate and report 10 Congress on
all facts concerning trade and produce
tion necessary to the proper adjustment
of the tarln
In deciding to get behind such COM
mission the President has DEPARTED
from position taken by him in q letter
to Governor Cox. OF Ohio. last Scpterl-
Der, I'm which he expressed the Oipion
that the Federal Trade Commission Utld
the BureaI. OF FOrcisn and Domestic
Commerce already had sufficient pow
ers to perform NIL the functions of a
tariff commission.
The President conferred today with
Majority Leader Kitchin of the House
on the subject. While Mr.. Kitchin has
no intention OF carrying his opposition
to the point OF break, and is willing
In the last analysis to abide .by the
Judgment of his colleagues on the Ways
and Means Committee, he is known to
have advised the President strongly
against the proposed legislation. Mr..
Hitchin would prefer TO pass an act ex-
Trade Commission.
To Prevent Dumping"
One of the big problems which would
face the proposed commission at the
outset would be to devise changes OF
some kind in the tariff law which would
prevent the dumping of goods on the
American market by Europe at the
close ftheSwar. Officials of the Gov
ernment have strong reason to beiieve
that at the close of the war the export
ing houses of Germany and other coun-
tries will, in a desperate effort to re-
gain their lost markets, will food the
GNanN Il g.rn Ill
ne proposed commission, however.
will have no administrative or IegisIa- :
tive functions. 1t will merely be an
inuuisitorial body. which will repor; the
results of its study direct to Congress,
leaving Congress to use as much OF its
advice as it cares to in shaping tariff
legislation.
1t is understood that the Democratic
members OF the ways and Means Com
mittee OF the House from the Norm are
pra ctically unanimously in favor or
such a commission, believing that its
creation would go far toward reassur-
ing American business interests. feet
ing in ihe South II is stated. is not ~
favor of the proposed move the oDinrou
OF Southern members being that =
would constitute an sdmi sion of Eea <
ness on the Da"t of the Democrats. w1o
nv failing TO appropriate morev for
commission put that body out OF Dusi-
ness.
Program Is Outlined.
AS the result oc recent conferences
Ectwcen the President ana spmc nf the
House and Senate DCm1c'ntic lcadrrs
the legislative rIO-ram 70 Crm7
months 10 COMO is pre-. ty olcarl Fhapel
up. II inclndcs:
The d9billpine iDir" enderce hih
With the ClhrEH anlCnLi, i,1nnt f0r fr,.",
dom for the islanG IN two 20 four
years
National dcf"ns"
ReVcnuo legislation, chief f.a'ure Of
hich is to hc exhaustion Of the income
tax. Big incomes arc t. be hit with a
heavier surtaN.
Tariff commission le"isIntIon.
In connection with this progra m.
efforts will he made to hesd off
pork ha~rel" bills. This includes the
good roads bill now before the House,
theA river and harbor bill, except as
for 'onunuing work on present prof.
ects. and the proposed omnibus pub
lie building bill.
Despite the fact the advocates OF
good roads are pressing the bill "a
passa &c through the House with grea
enthusiasm. It IS the intention 10
block this bill. which csrries $25, 900,
900 in the Senate As 1t looks now
its passage through the House will
be nothing but sop which House
members will throw down to their
constituents in the hope they will fnd
1t acceptable unit 1.-The November cleo
tions.