Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-05
BUSINESS MEN
SHOW CHANGE0N
CUSTOMS ISSUE
Tariff for Revenue Only No
v Longer Major Political
Question.
NEW POLICY OUTLINED
Special to Indiana Daily Times

Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Seven recon-
mendations embodying a radical depart
ure IN important respects from past prin-
cipIes in Ievying customs duties will be
put to a referendum vote on Wednesday
of the 14OO commercial organizations
making up tEe Chamber of Commerce
of the country. In announcing the ref
erendUm today the organization said the
new tariff policy Outlined in the recon-
mendations was prepared by a special
committee of business men, after an in
vestigatiOn from the standpoint of COM
mercial welfare.
The report in itself. embodying as it
does many new principles, indicates the
evolution through which the thought Of
American business men on the question
of i protective tariff is now going. 1t is
not the OId-time demand for a tariff
equalizing the cost Of production, with
its prOsaic cry for the protection OF Amer
lean industry, against foreign cOmpeti-
ton.
NEW METHODS TO DEAL
WITH COMPETITION.
On the other hand, it proposes new
methods 10 deal with foreign competi-
ton in an attempt to square the well
fare of American industry with America s
new position IN the world OF business.
The proposals on which business men ana
asked to express their views are, in sum
mary, as follows:
Creation Of a tariff adjustment
board with lowers TO adjust rates,
within limits prescribed by Congress,
in the event Of changes in economic
~ factors.
Reasonable protection" for Amer
lean industries subject TO destructive
competition from abroad and of bene-
fit to any considerable section Of the
country.
Maintenance in principle Of anti
dumping legislation.
Maintenance and encoura cement
Of export trade $50 far as consistent
with protection Of American indus
tries Of benefit to any considerable
section Of the country and subject to
destructive competition from abroad"
Tariff legislation to meet discrim-
limitations against American trade.
Rejection Of the sO-called American
valuation system Of levying ad "a
loren duties and retention of the old
system.
TARIFF FOR REVENUE
ONLY IN DISCARD.
The committees report points out that
revenue yielded by n tariff has declined
to a place OF secondary importance The
customs revenues for the years 1913. 1919
and 1870, the report states. cOnSuIuIeu
but per cent approximately OF the total
revenue. For this reason. it continues,
the question of a tariff for revenue only
probably will never become again a
major political issue
Taking up the proposal for a tariff ad-
1ustment board, the committee says that
It would not be feasible 10 have a Con-
CressionaI committee sitting continuous
" on individual items and schedules.
"Such a tariff adjustment board" de-
clares the committee. should have no
function except to decide. within the lin
itations clearly set by Congress, what
changes IN duties. Il any. should be made
It should act as n court, conducting
hearings and taking evidence. The de-
cision Of the tariff adjustment board on
rates Of duty should become as effective
and binding as duties fixed directly by
2ongress. Copyright 1921, by Public
Ledger Company.