South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-20


cult task OF taking the tariff out OF
politics
However. i should not be Infer
red from what has been said that
the direction given by congress toI
the president. with the aid OF the
tariff commission, 70 ascertain Diff
ferences IN costs or production IN
this country and IN competing for
e.cn countries. VIII prove easy toI
fuinu. The reverse Is true. Indeed.
there are many thinkers who view
the undertaking with profound
skepticism. which Is intensified By
their belief that cOsts OF production
do not furnish a practicable basis
for tartn making.
an dealing with tariff problems,
we are not so much interested IN
mathematical costs OF production
as we are IN the competitive
strength OF domestic and foreign
: industries.
1T Is certainly 20 be hoped, IN
working out this experiment with
opposed costs OF production. that a
liberal Interpretation OF the law. so
far as warranted by its language.
viii receive the cordial support OF
. public opinion and congress. Such
I an Interpretation IS apparently re-
/ CURED II we are 70 measure the FUN
/ damental conditions OF commerce
and trade which finally determine
I the effectiveness OF industries IN
! this and other countries. Such con-
dltions lie deeper than mathematical
/ costs. and the realization OF this
I fact by congress seemingly led to
I the inclusion Of authority 20 take
I account. IN determining costs OF
/ production, OF all the advantages and
disadvantages affecting competing
\ industries here and abroad.
Expect Public Benefits.
AS already int!ma;ed. under the
/ law as II now stands. certain pub
/ Tic benefits may reasonably be ex-
/ pected TO follow painstaking inquiry
\ into costs OF production. IN the
/ long run the competitive strength
/ OF industries IS more likely 10 be
revealed in the course OF the search
\ for exact production costs than IN
\ any other way.
1T is 10 be expected that IN such
! Investigations comparative advsn-
I tage5 OF production here and abroad
including wage conditions, the e.
/ fcCtiveness Of labor. raw material
/ costs, and the uke-wil be most
/ clearly disclosed. The superior ef-
/ Iciency OF American production and
manufacture in many lines Will be
more surely demonstrated than ever
before. There ought also 10 be &c
/ VelopeG a more Jealous disposition
I 20 discover whether high-cost indus
tries are being supported through
tariff duties for private ends only
or in the manifest interest of the
whole nation. Possibly, too, in in
dustries which may be controlled
under conditions suggestive OF mon
Cpoly. cost investigations may show
that prices have been unnecessarily
increased under the cover OF tariff
duties; and in such cases benefits
may result 10 consumers through
the reduction Of such duties. In 9TH
er words, such Investigations, what
ever their limitations. should pro-
mote more accurate knowledge con-
corning the underlying facts OF In
/ dustry, as well as more scientific,
consistent and permanent national
policies in surporL Of our CONNER
cal development and prosperity.
What has been said has chiefly
related to changes in rates OF duty
under the authority Of section SIS.
There is less novelty In. and will be
less dispute over. sections 316 and
ST. which confer power on the
president to impose additional duties