The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-11
HARDING PLAN
FOR FLEXIBLE,
(. TARIFF IS UP
Cure for Bad Bill
Fentures,' Says
Laurence.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright. 1922. bv The Ar9us

>Fssso1 e~SA, ~ AA0 a. 6u0sJ
Washington, D. c., Aug. H.
President Harding's original pro-
posal made In his message to con-
gress that he be given authority
to increase or decrease tariff duties
SO as to meet changing economic
conditions, has come up at last.
While objections galore are be-
ing voiced on the theory that con-
gress should not delegate its pow
ers the plain truth of the matter is
that the executive provision is the
cure for such bad features of the
Fordney bill as are admittedly con-
tanned in the bill as it stands today
and as it will be passed.
If the Fordney bill is bad in
spots, the flexible provisions will
correct it," is what the Republi-
can leaders will be able to say in
the coming congressional cam
paign. 1t will be contended that in
such a big piece of legislation mis-
takes will creep in but that unlike
other tariff bills whose defects can
not be Immediately cured without
the prolonged debate in congress
the machinery will have been pro-
vided for revision by the president
on advice of the tariff commission.
Mr.. Harding would have the power
to proclaim new duties on go days
notice.
Predicts Lawsuit.
The constitutional lawyers in
the senate are already at odds over
such law and unQuestionably
some day there will be a lawsuit
over change in the duty in some
industry and the principle will be
settled once for all. The trend of
decisions Of the supreme court of
the United States in the last gen.
GRAFTON has been in favor of delega-
tion of power to commissions. Per
haps the most notable examn1A Naa
the grant by congress to the inter-
state commerce commission to reg
ulate railroad rates. This law, was
bitterly contested but its consti-
tutionality was finally upheld.
Nothing more conspicuous how
ever, has come up than the income
tax laws which establish broad
i principles but which permit an ex.
ecutive department of the govern.
ment full powers in interpreting the
law. The fiexibility is such that
the treasury department can auto.
matically by the simple issuance
of ruling increase or diminish the
amount Of taxes received by tht
government without asking further
consent from congress.
| Cite Income Tax Law.
! Thus congress has on more thar
one occasion permitted an execu
tive department to regulate thu
amount of income received by thu
government and those who favol
the flexible tariff provisions poin
out that there Is essentially no diff
ference between delegation Of tn,
|interpretative power under the in
come tax laws and the change o
rates on imports when costs o
production have varied since a Law
! was passed.
4 But the process Is safeguarde'
by the fact that congress can a
any time repeal the provision ant
take away from the president tn
power to change tariff duties. 1t i
not as il congress were sperman
emily giving away one Of its consti
tutional powers. 1t is conceivabl
that some day the president viii
proclaim a rate which will be oh
J noxious to certain sections Of tn
country and a bill will be propose
. to make that particular custom
; duty exempt from the power Of tn
. executive. But such q bill woul
|, have to go through congress as q
isolated proposition and woul
stand or fall on its merits withou
!. the collateral support which sen
ators get for their pet measur
j when they can trade their own sur
, port for something else in q larg
ttarin bill.
{ walsh Opposes Idea.
} Again the president would hav
veto power over such an isolate
CONTINUED on Page Nineteeu.)