New Britain herald., 1916-11-04
THE TARIFF COMMISSION.

"
 troduced into the House of Represen- 1 tatives some seven months ago. later
 passed by Congress, and which now
 awaits appointm of it's member
 ship. This bill provides for a commis- sion with inquisitoria1 powers far ] greater than that of any other com- | mission ever dreamed of, and is the 1 one hope of the American people to foe,-politics. The Taft Tariff Board
 was the first step in that direction. 1 The Wilson Tariff Commission will be l the next and greatest attempt of the American people to throw off the 1 shackles of this disturbance that visits l them every four years. If this new Commission succeeds, as it is designed to do, in taking the tariff completely l put to find a substitute argument in 1 national election days to come.
 The new Tariff Commission whose
 mem bership is expected to be an-
  will be a trade advisor to all depart naents of the Federal Government. After searching inquiry, during which the plaints of all manufacturers will be heard, reports will be forwarded to the President and to the tariff com mites of the House and Senate. Under the Constitution of the United States, Article 1, Section 8, "The Con- gress shall have Power to Lay and
 collect Taxes, Duties, Imports, and Excises,' and as this power has not been relinquished, the Congress will still act finally on all matters per- taining to revenue, although this is no assurance that it's political beliefs will be reflected on the tariff commits sion, as many fear. Tn past years the Congressional committees that investi- l gated the trade requirem ents of various sections of the country were influenced more or less by their con- stitutents. The Tariff Commission
 will In the future do all the investi-
 gating, and if the proper men are ap- 1 pointed to the board, they will have
 TO difficulty in making Congress see
 things the right way, just as the Inter | state Commerce Commission now re- ] ports to Congress and also the Federal
 Trade Commission. These two great
 commissions have not, as yet, found
 politics infringing upon their powers
 Tn fact, the Interstate Commerce Commission, while it is responsible to Congress for many of it's acts, has
 grown to be viewed with much the same awe as that accorded to the l Supreme Court of the United States.
 This feeling will generate towards the
 Tariff Commission if the proper men
 are placed on 1t, and there is no doubt
 that the President intends. to select
 the best men available. President
 Wilson in his speech at Buffalo on
 Wednesday spoke enthusiastically or
 the tariff commission which he pro.
 or defeated, commission which will
 guarantee as nearly as possible a
 scientific and impartial determination
 of the facts"
 By appointing a permanent non partisan Tariff Commission Presiden7 Wilson takes a long step forward fol the business interests of the country ) the men who have always been ham | h1,t ha irc
 for this commission ample power tt
 obtain and report to Congress the facts essential to fair and just tarif making, this administration fortifie: the United States against any new
 conditions that may arise when tht European war ends. Especially is thi ! sf when it is considered that one O. the prime duties of the Commission shall be to investigate "the volum, of importations compared with do restic production" and also "unfai : competition of foreign industries 7. there is protection needed for any in dustries in this country they will ge , rrotection when the Commission de , termines that foreign competition i : unfair. It should be easy to prov 5 | these things if the facts are at hand : 1 The commission will have plenty O l nower. and should be a great sourc, 3 of help to ali men in the industria : and manufacturing world. It start } off with enough money to keep i t going, and with the very good pro