South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-02
LRIEP BODY now
REs.- I 70 TAKE UP
IMPORTANT DUTIES
Organization of Commission Is
Reshaped-Adopt Rules
of Procedure.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

WASHINGTON. D. C.. Nov. -
The United States tariff comm ission
is about TO become a real vital fac
tor IN American economic lines. II
wiz soon be ready 20 take up the
new and important duties imposed
on 70 by the Fordney McCumber
tariff act
II has completely reshapsd its or
Eanization and has reached agree
ment on the expansion that shall
be made az soon as the needed funds
ars provided BY congress. It also
has adopted rules OF future proceed
ure. which set forth how applica-
tons for Investigations shall be pre-
sented and under what conditions
and IN what manner the commission
viii conduct formal Investigations
upon which the president. under the
flexible provisions OF the tariff law.
may change not only rates and clas-
sifcations but the basis OF valuation.
These rules. which have been ap-
proved by the president. will be
promulgated soon.
In view OF the commissions pro-
gresS in the five weeks since the
tariff act was approved u IL thought
that actual operations looking to
changes OF rates Will be under way
by Nov. IS. The commissions next
step Will be 20 examine the applica-
lions for hearings, already on file,
and 20 determine which schedule or
the law shall first DO considered. II
Is generally thought that either
woods, sugar or chemicals and dyes
viii command earliest consideration.
Demands Varied.
Not all applications on file ask for
higher rates than those carried in
the law Perhaps one-half OF the
applications demand revision
downward. Importers OF dyestuffs
have attacked the new rates as pro-
hibitive and have filed with their ap
piication statements Of several man
ufacturers to the effect that the low
or Ericed cOlors are moro than ade-
Qua ely protected. Importers OF
Cuban sugar also have asked for
reduction OF sugar rates 10 those OF
the farmers emergency law.
In pointing out that the presidents
power TO raise or lower rates within
a limit OF so percent. may be exer-
cised only after the tariff commission
has made investi cation. members of
the commission made 10 clear that
they are not required to conduct all
Investigations applied for. Any one
may file an application but II win
be for the commission to determine
whether sufficient showing has been
made TO justify action looking 20
changes. The members also pointed
out that they may order formal In
vestigation upon their own Initiative,
as well as upon application, and the
stress with which mis- provision or
the law was emphasized created a
belief that the commission may lead
off in. two or three weeks with an
Investigation based on information
gathered by the commission during
the tariff controversy in congress
and ignored by the finance committee
OF the senate in drafting the house
bill.
To Defend Provisions.
The commission IS prepared 20
defend the elastic provisions OF the
new law against the attack OF I'M
onstitutionality which IS being
made from certain quarters on the
ground that they transfer legislative
power from congress to the execu-
tive. The contention OF the COM
missioners Is that congress mercy
laid down definite rule for the
guidance OF the executive and left TO
tho executive simply the finding OF
the facts and the application OF the
rule. This quotation OF the United
States supremeecourt was cited by
william S. CulbertsOn, vice-chalr-
man OF the commission. in a recent
speech; THE legislature canuOt del
esate its power 70 make a law, but
81 can make a law to delegate n
power 20 determine some fact or
state OF things upon which the law
makes. OF intends TO make. It's own
a~kFA-