Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-28
WILSON EXPLAINS
TARIFF BODY FLOP
President, in Letter to Kitchin,
Says He Changed Mind Because
Circumstances Did.
WANTS NoNPART1sAN EXPERTS

"
tion to a tariff commission and now
was urging the creation OF such q
body by congress. He wrote that
he had changed his mind because
''all the circumstances Of the world
had changed"
Declaring that he had mo thought
whatever of a change in attitude
toward the so-called protection Ques-
tion," the president said the pro-
posed commission would have moth
ing to do with theories Of policy,
cut would be charged only with the
duty of seeking facts TO guide con-
gress in legislation.
Urges NOnpRrtisan Board.
In another letter 70 Mr. Kitchin last
Monday he had set forth fully his ideas
of what a tariff commission should be
and urged that the ways and means
committee consider the matter immedi-
Stely. He favored a nonpartisan expert
organization.
Il have changed my mind" said to-
days letter. because all the circum-
stances of the world have changed and
It seems to me in view of the extraor-
binary and fsr-reaching changes which
the European war has brought about
It is absolutely necessary that we should
have a competent instrument of inquiry
along the whole line of the many ques-
lions which affect our foreign COM
merce.
II have had in this change of mind,
no thought whatever of a change of at
titude towards the so-called protection
question. That is neither here nor there.
A commission such as 1 have suggested
would have nothing to do with theories
OF policy. They would deal only with
facts and the f'cts which they would
seek ought to be the actual facts OF
industry and OF the conditions of econo-
mic exchange prevailing in the worid
so that legislation of every kind that
touched these matters might be guided
by the circumstances disclosed in its
Inquiries.
Folly to Act Now.
II dare say you feel as do, that Il
would be folly at this time. or until
all the altered conditions clearly are
understood. to attempt to deal with
problems Of foreign commerce by legis-
lation and yet having dealt directly and
clearly with the whole question of un-
fair competition within our own borders
1t is clear that as soon as we know
the facts we ought to deal with the
unfair methods OF competition as be-
tween our own nation and others; this
Is only one Of the many things We prob
ably would wish to deal with. The
other matters have attempted to indi-
cate In my previous letter to you. / ar
glad to supplement that letter by thii
explicit statement of the consideration
which have been most influential witt
me.
you will remember that in my las
message to congress ] foreshadowed Just
the conditions which were operating In
my mind in this matter. The passage &c
which l refer was this: Many conditions
about which we have repeatedly ex-
changed are being altered from decade &c
decade, 1t rs evident under our very eyes
and are likely to change even more rap
idly and more radically in the days i'm
Inediately ahead of us, when peace has
returned to the world and the nations OF
Europe once more take up their tasks Of
commerce and industry with the energ,
of those who must bestir themselves e
build anew.
No Calculable Elements.
Just what these changes will be nc
. one can certainly foresee or confidentl!
predict. There are no calculable becaus
no stable elements in the problem. Thu
most we can do is TO make certain tina
we have tine necessary instrumentslitiei
of information constantly at our servic,
so that we may be sure that we know ex
actly what we are dealing with when w
come to act. II 1t should be necessary q
act at all. We must first certainly know
what 1t is that we are seeking to adap
ourselves to. I may ask the privilege o
addressing you more at length on this i'm
portant matter a little later In the ses
sion
81 need hardly cay that I appreciate
very fully the motives by which you ar
yourself actuated and it is, therefore
with the greater confidence that l Ia,
the whole matter thus fully before you
Congress has so much to do at the pres
ent time that 1t is clearly impossible tina
It should be able to collect all the dat
which such a commission would gather
and / feel that 1t would presently fin
such a commission indispensable TO it,.
should He without Bias.
In his letter sent TO Mr.. Kitchn las
Monday the president said:
Il am convinced, as / suppose ever
disinterested person must be, that
would be a mistake to provide for such
board with the idea OF serving any par
ticular theory of fiscal policy. What "
would need would be above al things els
a board as much as possible free fror
any strong pre-possession in favor OF an
political policy and capable OF looking q
tho whole economic situation OF the cour
try with dispassionate and dislntereste
scrutiny. ! believe we could obtain sue
a board II the proper legislation wer
Enacted and 1t is quite clear to me whs
tire field OF its inquiry and its uctivitie
ehould be-
lie outlined in detail his plans Tor tn
work of such a board including the co
lection OF tariff figures. investigation c
the output Of products at home an
abroad, Of the workings OF commerce,
treaties and preferential agreements. {
unfair methods Of competition, OF dunn
ing and OF scientific methods Of creatin
new industries and building up old ones.
mi 0NEJ ANDERSON