The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-07-08
PRESIDENT WANTS
ELASTIC TARIFF
Anxious that Tariff Com
mission Be Given Power
to Change Rates
CONDITIONS CHANGE
FASTER THAN LAW

Have Principle Fixed But Rates Sari-
able to Meet Economic Conditions
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Dispatch to The Reformer)
Copyright 1922.
WASHINGTON, July S.-President
Harding wants the powers of the tariff
commission enlarged and he will insist
upon provision to that effect in the
pending tariff bill
Senator NIcCumber, chairman of the
finance committee, of the senate has just
announced on the floor of the senate that
many of the changes in the bill since its
introduction have been occasioned by
changes in conditions from day to day.
Mr.. Harding is among those who believe
that if conditions change while the bin
is under consideration they will change
when it is law and some permanent ma
chinery for alteration must be provided
because the senate finance committee can
not stay in continuous session to do the
job when the measure is law
The President is prepared to make an
earnest appeal for the transfer of tlfs
problem to the hands of the tariff com
mission. This body at present has only
powers of inquiry and study. For gen
erationS it has been argued that the tariff
could be taken out of politics If the sub
ject could be handled by a tariff commits
sion. The President has the greatest OPP
portunity any American president has
ever had to overcome the traditional OBJ
lection in congress to the giving up by
congress of the task of making tariff bills
Heretofore the power has been jealously
rflor hrn e., Al, ~
tectionist or tariff for revenue principles
would be abandoned according as the
tar1ff commission was composed of those
who leaned toward the Democratic or
Republican view of tariff making. Within
the last few days the Republican national
committee has taken fling at the move
ment for a "non-partiSan tariff commits
sion by insisting that there could be no
such thing as one or the other of the two
principles must prevail.
Firmly ProtectiOnist.
Mr.. Harding is a protectionist. He
quiets the fears of those who would hest
tate to give the full power to a tariff COM
mission by urging that the commission
should merely recommend and that tn,
chief executive should have the power t.
proclaim the tariff duties as conditions.
change
This correspondent has been assured
that Mr.. Harding stands today on the
recommendations he made in his Decem-
Der address to congress in which be said:
Il hope way viii be found to, make for
fteXibility and elasticity so that rates may
be adjusted to meet unusual and changed
conditions which cannot be accurately
anticipated. These are problems incident
to unfair practices and to exchanges
which madness in money have made Mt
most unsOlyable. / know of no manner
in which to affect this fexibility other
IN ny~fa e IL,
tariff commission so that it can adapt it
self to scientific and wholly just admin
lStration of the law
Il am not unmindfui of the constitu-
tlonal difficulties. These can be met biz
giving authority to the chief executive.
who could proclaim additional duties to
meet conditions which the congress may
designate. The grant of authority To
proclaim would, necessarily. bring the
tarlH commission into new and enlarged
activities, because no executive could dis
charge such a duty except upon the in
formation acquired and recommendations
made by this commission But the plan
4 feasible and the proper functioning of
the board would give US better admins
tratlon of defined policy than ever can
be made possible by the tariff duties pre-
scr1bed without flexibility"
Evils Lie in Application.
BY the phrase administration of a
defined policy" the President means in
ms own case protectionist policy The
evils OF tariff law are not usually one
OF principle, but the application of a prin-
clpte. 1t is more often a question of
whether the protection is for them or for
the consumer and whether the protection.
1t 1T Is for them. is sufficient to keen ont
foreign competition without raising the
price too high for American consumers.
As coss,- of production and labor condi-
tons change the statistics on which con
gress levies its duties also change. Mr.
Harding wants the protectionist policy
applied honestly. He believes a tariff
commission could constantly furnish the
data and the chief executive could thus
change the duties from time to time to
CONFORM 70 the Huctuation In economic
conditions through the country.
Many Republicans Lukewarm.
Many of the Republicans who are to
vote Tor the pending tariff bill will do 50
with a lukewarm feeling They know
the bill will cause dissatisfaction later on
Ihey would welcome. therefore. some cor
receive machinery which would. in it.
sell, constitute an assurance agains. the
PAD working of the pending measure.
congress would always be able to revoke
the power given the executive If il
were abused the saving of time and
feIllzed, would be a big advantage
Aside from that, however. the Prpsident
IS confident it will be better for tha
country-both for the manufacturers and
consumers-if they could be sure of a
square deal at all times by body of ex-
perts responsible to the executive ONLY
and not to particular PonStituau.;o,. ,,.;.i