Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-05-18
FOUR BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
SELECTED FOR MEMBERSHIP
ON NEW BOARD.
PROBABILITIES DISCUSSED
BEFORE BILL IS PASSED
Measure Not Yet Adopted BY Either
Houss--President Certain Bill Will
Be Enacted Into Law--E. E. Pratt,
. Chief Of commeree Bureau, Said to,
Be Slated For Chairman.

washington. May IL. - NotWltn-
standing the Rainey tariff commits
sion bill has not passed either branch
OF congress, politicians are beginning
to discuss the personnel of the new
commission. 1t Is stated on the best
authority available that no less than
four of six men who will compose the
commission already have been de-
termined upon. The tariff commission
idea has the support Of both parties,
and if put thru as a rider to the
revenue bill, the house at least Will
be given little or no chance to change
any of its essential features "a.
1t is possible that the measure Will
attract less criticism than some Of the
appointments the president may make
under it.. Mr.. Wilson has not been
extraordinarily fortunate. to put 1t
mildly, in selecting the ablest men OF
the country to do work authorized by
congress. A tariff commission is pre-
sumed to be the last word in CO.
operating between business and con-
81 ess. and unless the nominations to
this important body are made with ex-
treme care and the nominees are of
such commanding personal ability and
thoro experience in trade and COM
merce as to exert strong personalin-
huence in private life. the new tariff
commission will make a bad start.
z. e. Pratt May Be Chairman.
In his letter to former Governor
Cox. of Ohio approving the ~ tariff
commission plan. written last Sep
TENDER, President Wilson pointed out
- If he yAnunrS nf tariff
eomnfission naturally would exercise
already are possessed by the federal
trade commission and the bureau of
foreign and domestic commerce. OF the
Of commerce. For this
reason, and others. it is understood in
official circles that DIR. Edward Ewing
Pratt, chief of the bureau OF foreign
and domestic commerce will be ap-
pointed chairman Of the proposed
tariff commission. DIR. Pratt was ap-
pointed To his present position after
some experience with export organi-
cations in New York and in many re-
spects he has developed his bureau TO
n high degree Of efficiency. 49,.
In the recent agitation for protective
duties on dsestuffs, he has stood with
his chief in direct antagonism to the
UNIVERSAL ueSiEe loi ScSh SAtSN~-
and has insisted that an antidumping
clause would constitute a sufficient
barrier against the highly organized
competition to be expected Of the Ger
man chemical plants after the close OF
the war. Xii. -s r.. '3tE
Manufacturers Are Dispieased.
In taking this attitude the depart
n1ent of commerce has forfeited much
~
large and powerful group Of manufac-
turers in the textile, leather, allpaper,
printing and other trades, AS sub
ordinate of Secretary William c. Red
field DR.. Pratt may not be responsible
for assuming a position so diametri-
cally opposed to that taken by manu-
facturers and it is possible that as
chairman Of a nonpartisan body ike
the tariff commission, he would de-
veiop a more businesslike and less
theoretical frame Of mind.
Another man said to be scheduled
for appointment to the tariff commits
sion is the present first assistant
postmaster general, Daniel G. Roper,
of North Carolina. As clerk OF the
house committee Of ways and means
Roper showed high efficiency and also
became intimately familiar with the
intricacies Of the Underwood Simmons
tariff bill. ,.~
The selection OF these two men will
go far to strengthen the theory that
one purpose Of the proposed tariff
commission will be to maintain In
force as long as possible, the current
tariff rates to which the party Of Wilson
and Underwood is so devotedly at
tached that Ii Is unwilling to in
crease them even for the purpose OF
establishing an American chemical In
dustry. ~ 4Eg
John H. F'ahey of Boston, former
president of the chamber OF commerce
of the United States, is third man
whose appointment as a tariff commits
sioner is expected Mr.. Fahey has
served the chamber Of commerce with
distinguished, ability. His work in be-
half of American business has been
disinterested and intelligent. The
tariff commission bill as now framed
owes some OF its best features to the
influence Of the chamber Of commerce
and the chamber Was led in turn, to
interest Itself in the measure partly
thru the foresight of President Fancy.
Haistsad Probable Apprentices.
Al fourth member Of the commission
whose appointment is predicted fs
Frank NJ. Haistead, Of Washington.
chief q the customs division OF the
treasury department. This. Ike some
Of the others would be Thoroughly
non partisan appointment and giving
deserved recognition to one OF the
ablest officials in the government
service, s.. - 5 :. s s.
The commissioners are to be ap-
pointed for varying terms which. how
ever, will run into full terms OF twelve
years each upon reappointment. The