Denver labor bulletin., 1917-12-29
TARIFF BOARD is
FORMING BASIC
RULES FOR PEACE
CUSTOM LAWS BEING RE
VISED FOR FUTURE USE.
Work of Commission Has Been
Handicapped by the War, But
Is Making Gratifying Prog
ress; Bargain Power of
American Tariffs Being
Considered.


United States Tariff Commission, of
which Edward p. Costigan of Denver
is a member, has just been issued in
printed form and furnishes a most in
teresting resume of the important
work under way, tho TO some extent
handicapped by the war.
The United States Tariff Commits
sion was organized for work on
April /, 1917. The commission is
charged with the investigation of the
administration and the fiscal and in
dustrial effects of the customs laws
of this country, including their rela-
ton not only to the federG revenue
but to the industries Of the country.
1t has power, further, to investigate
commercial treaties. preferential
agreements and economic alliances,
and the conditions and causes affect
ing the competition Of foreign indus
tries with those of the United States.
The commission submitted, during
the extra session of this year, to the
committee on ways and means of the
House of Representatives. a report
which recommended that Congress
should take steps analogous to those
which other countries have taken, and
which are there known as paddock
laws, whereby proposed increases IN
duties and taxes should 90 into effect
before the enactment Cf new revenue
laws. but subject to their being finally
passed The method adopted by Con-
gress to attain the same end in the
war revenue act Of this year is TO fol-
low taxable articles into the channels
Of trade. But this does not reach
smaller retail stocks and it has the
further objection that suddenly i'm
q nfRFI
ties on the Bureau OF Internal Reve-
nue.. The commission repeats its rec
ommendation for permanent legisla-
tion on this subject.
Revision of Custom Laws.
The commission has undertaken the
task of drafting revision and codi-
fication of the administrative laws re-
lating to the customs, in order to re-
move the existing Implications, con-
tradictions and antiqIated provisions.
II has invited suggestions from treas
ury officials. others in the public serv-
ice, and business men and attorneys.
The commission hopes to present to
Congress revision which, if approved
and enacted into aw, will result in
clearness and simplification in the
form and substance of the customs ad-
ministrative laws, increased efficiency
lie, and a substantial saving of gov
ernment expenditure. In this connec-
tion the commission is also investigat-
ing the question Of free zones in ports
as a means Of eNpediting export trade
and overcoming demurrage in ocean
commerce.
The commission has undertaken to
establish catalogue of tariff infor-
nation, somewhat in the nature of an
encyclopedia, which shall contain as
far as possible data for each impor-
tant article affected by the tariff.
The data will include statistics on i'm
ports, exports. production. prices and
cost of production. processes of manu-
facture and competitive conditions.
/ This catalogue is TO be kept continu-
ously up-to-date. A part of the gen
eral plan will be the establishment of
tariff library in which will be kept
books. pamphlets, letters from pro
ducers and importers, etc, classified
and arranged for ready consultation
in connection with the catalogue.
Prepare for Peace Conditions.
The commission is making a special
survey Of the chemical industry and
expects to present to Congress a de-
tailed report showing the development
of the industry and especially of those
branches which have been most stim-
ulated by the war The investigation
carried on by the commission will be
especially devised so as to provide the
information necessary for the leCisla-
tive readjustment to peace conditions.
BY direction Of the President the COM
mission is taking the special census of
chemical products made necessary by
section sol of the act of September
s. 1915
War disturbances, such as the effect
of the war on the supply of raw ma
terials, tendencies developing in diff
ferent industries. new and increased
establishments, changes in processes.
and plans for readjustment after the
war, are being specially 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 govern
ment, into closer relation to war prob
lens and conditions. Both our allies
and our enemies are considering the
possibility of commercial warfare,
commercial neutrality, and CONNER
cial alliance. The Central Powers are
considering the arrangement of an
economic union for central Europe
Imperial preference has been actively
discussed in England and in her self