The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-12-10

revision which, if approved and en-
acted into law, will result in clear
ness and simplification in the form
and substance Of the customs admin
istrative laws, increased efficiency
and greater convenience for the pup
lie. and substantial saving of Gov
ernment expenditure. In this con
nection the Commission IS also in
veStigating the question Of free zones
in ports as Il means OF eNPedltInS eN-
port trade and overcoming deEur-
rage in ocean commerce.
The Commission has undertaken
TO establish catalog of tariff infor-
nation, somewhat i'll the nature of
an encyclopaedia, which shall con
tain as far as possible data for each
importa ant article affected by the
tariff The data will include Stats
ties on imports, exports, production,
prices and cost of production. pro
cesses OF manufacture and compeu-
tive conditions. This catalog is to
be kept continuously up-to-date. A
part of the general plan will be the
establishment of tariff library IN
which will be kept books. pamphlets,
letters from producers and import
ers, etc, classified and arranged for
ready consultation in connection
with the catalog.
The Commission is making spe-
cial survey of the chemical industry
and expects to present to Congress
detailed report showing the deNel-
opment of the industry and especial
" of those branches which have been
most stimulated by the war. The in
vestigation carried ON by the Com
mission will be especially devised so
as to provide the information neces-
sary for legislative REIMBURSEMENT to
peace conditions. BY direction OF
| the President the Commission is taxi
| ing the special census of chemical
products made necessary by section
sol of the act OF September 8, 1915.
War disturbances, such as the eff
| feet of the war On the supply of raw
materials, tendencies developing in
different Industries, new and in
creased establishments, changes in
processes, and plans for readjust-
ment after the war, are being spe-
cially considered by the Commission
The entrance of the United States
| into the European War has brought
| the activities of the Commission, as
| those of every department OF the
Government into closer relation to
war problems and conditions. Both
| our allies and our enemies are con-
sidering the possibility of CONNER
| cial warfare, commercial neutrality,
| and commercial alliance. The Cen
| trail Powers are considering the ar
rangement of an economic union for
| Central Europe. Imperial preference
has been actively discussed in Eng
| land and in her self-governing colo
MES. Far-reaching possibilities are
| suggested by the results of the Paris
Economic Conference which met in
June, 1916, and which provided for
a differential treatment between al
| lied countries, neutral countries, and
enemy countries. In the act Great
ing the Tariff Commission, the Com
mission was specifically empowered
! ito investigate the Paris Economy
Pact and similar organizations and
arrangements in Europe" The Com
mission is preparing an extensive re-
port on bargaining tariffs, CONNER
cial treaties, and economic alliances.
| The United States has never had a
consistent policy with reference tC
| bargaining tariffs, whereas the Soun
tries of Europe have worked out
several different systems. The Tar
iff Commissions report will provide
! the facts upon which Congress may
| found a method for using the bar
| gaining power in American tariffs,
and also upon which American COM
mercial treaties may be adjusted to
meet the conditions OF the modern
world.
In all that it has undertaken the
| Commission is working in harmony
with other departments of the gov
eminent. thereby avoiding duplica-
| ton of effort