Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-02
WILL AID
IN REVISING TARIFF
Ways and Means Committee to Have
-. Detailed, Reports on Industries
When Holding Hearings. ss

silk and manufactures thereof, Feb
ruafy 8 and 4: schedule NJ, paper and
books. February S and z; schedule n.
sundries., February s. . and 10: free
list. February IL. IL and a.: admins
tration and miscellaneous, February
Is and Is. 80
What does. the tariff commission try
to tell about each Of these industries?
First. it describes what the commodity
is and what its uses are. 1t then de-
scribes the production in this coun-
try. the materials used. whether OF
foreign or domestic origin, the equip
ment necessary for successful produc-
ton. 1t compares the sources OF ma
terials and equipment of domestic
producers with those Of their foreign
! competitors. So
Next is given q sufficient description
OF the processes Of production to in
dictate whether it is an industry
that can feasibly be carried on in
this country. The tariff commission
then shows, whether the domestic out
put ID sufficient to meet the domestic
needs, and whether it needs to be sup
piemented by imports from abroad. II
the latter. then it explains what.-ya-
rieties and qualities or grades have
to be procured in foreign countries.
After describing the domestic pro-
duction, the tarin commission takes
up imports, il there are any. IL
shows the amount of imports for "A
series Of years. 1t describes the
nature of the imports. SO as to show
whether they are truly competitive
with domestic production or whether
they simply supplement domestic pro-
duction in fieldsin which the domestic
products are either insufficient or of
some quality that does not quite MI
the needs to which the imports are
adapted.
Comparison with Foreign Condition..
Then the tariff commission lin the
survey makes a comparison of the
competitive conditions for this coun-
try and foreign countries. It COM
pares labor conditions. giving spe-
| cifically, where possible to ascertain
them, wages paid in this county and
In foreign countries. 1t compares or
ganization and management here and
abroad, SO as to show whether or
not the domestic producer is at. a
disadvantage In these regards.~-..
The commission next points ONT.
when it is significant, differences. in
Transportation costs and describe in
such detail as the uncertain condi-
tions now bFevailihg in different parts
Of the &orfd permit any special sd-
vantages for fofeiGn producers or dis
advantages for domestic producers.
The tariA history is then related
for each. Of. the items covered In the
survey. end in detail are. given all
matters relating to the classification
Of each article and the effect that q
change in duty on any particular ar
ticie would have on production of ar
ticles into which it enters or with
which it is connected.
Detailed statistics are presented of
production. imports. exports and
prices. The priff commission ends
it's survey By giving all the significant
court or Treasury decisions.
These surveys, unprecedented in
tariff history. make it possible for the
ways and means committGb to say
these are the facts" and then to
determine from these facts whether
as . matter Of policy the tariff should
be adjusted upward or downward