Evening star., 1919-03-16


portant part in framing one Of the
great tariff measures of the country.
which should prove to be a vital issue
in the next presidential campaign.
Charged to Revise Tariff.
Revision of the tariff Mr. Moore con-
siders of prime and essential impor-
tance. Republicans have a heavy
charge laid upon them. and the steer
ing committee is discussing pro-
gram for the next Congress" he said.
When the republican conference
meets to act upon the report of the =
committee on committees it is to be
expected that something will be said
about policy, Until the conference
does assemble it may not be wise to
attempt a forecast of what may be
done. But have no hesitation in say
ing that among the problems to be
considered by the new Congress will
be a revision of the tariff. Mr. Ford
ney. who probably will be the rev
chairman of the committee on ways
and means. has already expressed him
self on this subject. 1 am inclined
to agree with him that something
should be done to protect american
| industry and that as speedily as pos
sible.
I'VE have ample evidence OF the dis :.
position of the big European nations
to foster and protect their own in
dustries, and there is no good reason
why our modesty and desire to help
them should permit us to fall behind
in the commercial race. Many COM
plants have been coming in from the
manufacturing districts, which are
beginning to feel the effects of for
eign embargoes against American
manufactures. We are also advised
that the wool growers. the grain rails
ers and others who are close to the
soil realize that their present pros
perity may not last. and that the pro-
lection afforded their products by the
Underwood tariff law is not sufficient.
From day to day, as we put the war
in Europe behind US, we learn of the
increase Of low-priced goods and
products from England and Japan un-
til it seems that the time has ar
II feu IOT US W ldhC dh oSSOAhI VI
stock. We must provide employment
for our returning soldiers and for
those whose occupation at munitions
making has gone. 1 presume thfs,
question of tariff revision will be one
of the first important republican con-
siderations."
Earlv Return of Railroads.
Early return of the railroad sys-
TENS to their private ownerships- un-
der stricter governmental restric-
tions, and with accompanying leg1s-
lation looking to the development OF
the inland and coastwise waterways
as agreed upon by joint conferences
of senator's and representatives in
terested in waterway development. 10
halso predicted by Representative
| Moore. On this subject he said: The
railroad question which has been
muddled by the present adminfstra-
ton will undoubtedly be taken up
promptly by the republicans in Con-
gress. Representative Esch of Wis
consin. the incoming chairman Of the
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce.. has already prepared a bill
which contemplates the return OF the
railroads to their owners on reason
able conditions. I do not believe the
country approves Of the existing gov
ernment railroad administration and
am persuaded that most other re-
publicans feel the same way about II.
The railroads would be returned to
their owners as speedily as possible
on terms fair alike to the govern
ment. the investors and the employees.
Such limitations should be, imposed
as will give the public assurance OF
fair competition by water as well as
by rail, commensurate with an i'm
proved service for passengers and
freight"
Pledges made on the floor during
the last session of Congress that the
expenditure of extravagant sums for
war activities would be investigated
seemed to have a bearing on the care
shown in the selection of certain
committees in the next Congress. This
suspicion that the republicans had
in mind an extensive auditing of the
billions of dollars poured out in war
budgets is confirmed by Representa-
tive Moore.
Searching Inquiry Proposed.
War expenditures will occupy a
large share of the attention of the
new Congress-" he admitted. And he
gave a hint of what the steering COM
mittee has in mind when he con-
tinued: TT may develop that some
central investigating committee will
be set to work. Whether this is done
or not, it is reasonably certain that
the standing expenditures commit
tees, which have remained silent and
idle during the Sixty fifth Congress.
will become active working forces
under the republican regime. 1t has
been charged that waste and extrava-
gance have prevailed in many of the
departments, and it is apparent that
the republican committee on commit
tees in selecting its expenditures
committeeman has put ererEentic
men on guard.
Pledge that the republicans, will
work for industrial activity and a
two-fisted trade expansion, both i'm
port and export is coupled with a
warning that the shipping board may
be held to account for delay in con,
struction Of an adequate merchant
marine. although ample funds. have
been constantly available This was
f1 "a