The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-16

ly made at the present time that the Democratic party has ever taken a position against @ Tariff commission. The bill passed Republican house but 1t was already so late in the ses- sion that there was little hope for It's ultimate passage. A Republican Sen- ate held the bill until the very last day of the session and vote was had on the bill in the Senate at nine o'clock of the morning of March 4, 1911 three hours before the expira- tioh of the life of the 61st Congress. 1t might be noted in this connection that the bill was not presented for passage in the House under the rule reported out by the Rules committee until long after d Democratic major ity had been elected to the 62nd con- gress. The bfll was brought back to the House just before the adjourn ment of the 61st Congress. After roll calls on amendments Mir. Payne of Now York, the Leader of the House was in his place and called attention to the fact that 1t was evident that the bill could not pass before twelve o'clock and called attention to the pending Sundry Civil bill and to the fact that the Post Office Appropria- ton bill had not been signed. He therefore asked unanimous consent to "vacate the order and allow the Res olution to be withdrawn" This was done and very soon afterwards the Iife of the 61st Congress ended, under the law.
 The bill which has just passed pro- vides for non-partisan Tariff Com mission of six members, no more than | three of whom are to belong to the same political party. An ample ap- propriation is provided for and the ,, new commission will be appointed soon and will commence its labors. The permanency of this commission is absolutely assured. Ample powers have been conferred upon 1t by the bill The efforts of the Republican Party leaders to again inject the Tar if issue into the present campaign have so far failed and they ought to fail. There ought never to be an- | other complete revision of the tariff. The tariff ought to be as completely free from partisan political action as are our Internal Revenue Taxes. Tar if changes will of course be neces- sary in the future but they ought to be made only after complete investi- gations by the commission created by this law. From 1860 until the present day w( have had eleven complete tariff reyi- sions and two attempted tariff revi- sions. Business in this country has therefore been subjected to an acute tariff convulsion on an average of ev- cry four years from 1860 to the pres. ent time. Germany has only revised her tariff once in thirty-seven years
 In that period of time we have revis. ed qur tariff six times. In France they have revised the tariff once in the last twenty-seven years Durins this period we have revised our tar. if four times. No wonder business is in continued state of convulsion.
 The issues this year are new is. sues. Campaign orators who are un. able and unprepared to discuss any questions except tariff! questions will
 be and ought to be out of job this
 year and hereafter in this country
 Business is prospering now as neve,
 before. In spite of the fact that the | Underwood Tariff bill reduces rates te
 a considerable degree it is still the highest tariff in the world. The tariff
 convulsions which have been a con.
 tinuous performance in this countr,
 for nearly sixty years ought to enc
 with the passage of this bill. The
 tariff issue has been particularly prof. itable for politicians. They have beer Felected to office repeatedly as the re. suit of this issue. It has, however been disastrous to business The time thas come to hold the markets which
 under the present administration WI
 have gained in all parts of the worlt
 and to maintain the prosperity whicf
 prevails at home.