The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-07
THE TARIFF COMMISSION.
Mr.. Wilson May Find Difficulty In
Getting Impartial Men for 1t.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: For
a long time a number OF well meaning
people In this country have been advo-
eating the appointment OF a so-called
non-partisan tariff commission and ac-
cording to recent newspaper accounts
they have enlisted the support Of. the
President Of the United States.
ON its surface the idea OF a non
partisan commission is attractive and
its appeal is understandable. but a lit
tie real thought must discover the fact
that 1t Is an anomaly. Every citizen
Of this country with n mind to think
Is either for protection or against II,
and IL Mr.. Wilson undertakes seriously
TO appoint what in Justice can he called
II non-partisan board he will find him
self limited to insane asylums as tho
sole source of supply.
1t is said to nave taken a tarin
commission in Germany something more
tina ten years to formulate what In
its opinion constituted a rea sonable
and just tariff. and it is to he remem-
bered that there was no division Of
party or opinion. the board being n
unit In desiring the best tariff to be
had for Germany.
Having in mind the diversity Of opin-
ion and OF party In this country, ii has
been estimated by authorities that 1t
would take an able commission from
twenty to twenty-five years properly TO
investigate the whole subject, and the
question presents itself: what Is to be-
come of the country during this time?
Certainly II must he apparent that II
Mr.. Wilson and his fellow dreamers are
to afiict us with a so-called %non-parti-
san tariff commission some steps should
be taken to compel the establishment OF
a sufficiently protective tariff to see US
through the interval.
The low cbb to which our Industries
sunk. less thar 80 per cent. of our mills
in operation, previous 10 the outbreak
of the war. serves ms an ominous warn
ing of what Will happen IL We continue
under the wholly inadequate Simons-
Underwood act until the proposed com
mission has concluded its deliberations
No one familiar with the facts Is In
any doubt that tn" war Is the sole cause
Of such prosperity as Industries are
now enjoying. or that the termination OF
the war viii witness a return to a 80
per 'ent. basis II uperatfon the moment
European manufacturers turn again TO
tho United States.
Another thought worth noting IN con-
ucctiou viii tho activities of tatin
commissions IS the difficulty Of obtain
ing accurate information from abroad.
An oMe'al commission can rct at the
iacte IN this country because it has
the power t. compel manufacturers 70
produce their books. Needless TO gay
the commission would possess no such
power as TO foreign manufacturers and
would have to he content with such In
formation AZ the foreigner might give
Il Is unlikely that he would divulge
facts that would accrue to our benefit
a. his expense.
These ard many other consideration
that might De set forth emphasize the
necessity Of bond iug every effort TOWARD
the establishment " a protective tarjfi
that protects before any thought Is
gwen 10 TIE appointment Il "A non
partisan or any other Kind of tarif
commission II capital and labor in
vested in the industries of this countr!
are to he saved from Bankruptcy.
II NJ. STOCKTON.
NEW YORK. February 3