Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-02
preparing TO meet
! ECONOMIC CHANGES
United States, Through Tariff
4 Commission, Considering
N Problems to Follow War.
OUTLINE OF WORK IN VIEW

III The United States, through the tariff
sfe11mission, is preparing to meet the
Sbconomic problems which will confront
his country at the conclusion of the
mar. In this, the United States is not
alone, for the entente allies, Germany,
s5apan and other nations have all set
10 work master minds to deal with eco
pomic changes, particularly with refer
sAnce to their foreign trade, which must
S3ollow the conclusion of peace.
The tariff commission already has ac-
Nomplished a great deal, which neces-
tearily does not appear on the surface.
sbut which will bear fruit when this
tcountry is called upon to establish new
Eerade treaties, and Congress to enact
ktariff legislation in the future. Its
sEork has been along two lines.
L 1. War work, in which the commits
eion has assisted in the preparation Of
staata to be used in war revenue 1egis-
Patton already enacted and to come.
and has assisted the State Department
hnd other departments in handling
thuestions which are constantly arising.
Ii 2. The work of preparedness for the
problems which must be solved as soon
rs peace is declared. 1t has reversed
the axiom in time of peace prepare
kkor war" and in time of war is prepar-
s1ng for peace.
Il Outlines Tasks Under Way.
E William S. Culbertson, a member OF
Is
with The Star today, outlined the tasks
(which the commission has under way.
MANY people find it difficult to think
tbf tariff investigation apart from the
faxcitement of tariff revision" said
9Afr. Culbertson. This is a product of
american tariff methods in the past
Dllr custom has been to wait until the
)futy Of writing new schedules Is forced
xnpon us by political exigencies, and
Then under the whip of necessity to try
40 collect in few months data upon
(which to revise the tariff. We find it
1in1cult to understand the policy which
led certain European countries to
Epend years in investigating the tariff
before they changed the law.
The questions of whether there is to
De a revision of the tariff, when 1t is
no take place, and what the rates are
no be, are questions which Congress
alone can determine. But II the estab-
4shment of permanent tarin COM
lining. Il signifies desire for more de-
41berafe scientific methods In gathering
t4arf6 data, SO that Congress. II 1t does
Eyfecide to take up the tariff. will have
k8deQuate information at hand It was
n Wise policy that set our commission
ITO work at a time when fundamental
schanges are taking place in public
}Anance, in industry and In fnterna-
Work Required Time, He Says.
II The work which our commission has
Before 1t cannot be done in q few
8nonths 1t requires time. From its
berry nature 1t cannot be spectacular.
Z "a large part of it will be hard drudg-
Bry, Few problems are more COM
hEex and diversified than the problems
HI production. distribution, labor,
FINANCE, consumption and foreign trade
Which are presented by tariff schedules.
e '-The effect of the war on the eco
Domic life of our nation must be evil
lent to the most Indifferent onlooker.
lBuch times Of radical change as those
Through which the world is now pass
ing are times for observation. War
tOdAy IL modifying our views OF labor,
; III distribution, of finance and produc-
H1on-fn fact, it Is shaking the whole
flxAditiona1 structure of our economic
NE. Is it not good time for a
fec1enttfc consideration Of our future
t4evelcpment? The war. instead Of
:: Responsibility OF the tariff commission.
The tariff commission has undertaken
~ extensive investigation into the chemi-
N industries because, among many rea-
DunAs the war has had radical and far
Feaching effect upon them But since no
oumi11ion c0uld at the same time study
Z[c4entfdcally in detail all schedules in the
nxi6, We have undertaken to cover every
I t{hihg In an extensive way We have e1-
I1blished a permanent division to be
Known as the tariff information catalogue
D this catalogue we expect to have q Ills
{ - information upon every fnportauh
ElTt4c3e entering into commerce. Il viii
{ t9e our purpose to keep this tariff inforrua-
MON catalogue up to date, 30 that business
Hnen, members Of the press and members
H Congress can obtain, at any time, reii-
4 Xob1e and accurate information on any item
! 10 the tariff In which they may be partfcu-
I nxiy Interested.
III Has International Aspect.
n Not only does the work Of the tartfr
Z ommission extend to the domestic,
! mt also to 1.-the international aspect 81
ne tariff In the law creating the
4 u8Ar16 commission we were authorized
He Investigate the tariff relations be-
tfSWeen the United States and foreign
!. 1pountries, commercial treaties, pref
4 gential provisions and economic AL
Z Utnuces. particularly the agreement
lnQtered into at the Paris economic
y epnference. The war has either swenf
HAy or made obsolete practically 81
IT the commercial treaties Of the
&wcrld.
~ I'VE are examining the fnndsm.r+.,