New-York tribune., 1922-08-12
Senate Votes
For Flexible
Tariff Plan
tcssuss,s .. s,rt p.s)

given TO the President l should i'm
mediRtely proclaim the tariff board as
the agency Of investigation end recon-
mendAtion. because the President could
rot deal with the situation In any other
practical manner. / think IL more
seemly. therefore. 70 have the Congress
definitely designate the tariff board as
the agency 10 be employed by the Pres
ident in the exercise Of executive pow
er which Il Is proposed 10 bestow."
The House bill lacks flexible pro-
visions, but IL is assumed the House
will accede 10 those adopted by the
Senate or the substance Of them.
The argument for such provisions Is
that In view Of the unsettled eondi-
tions abroad. II Is essential that the
rates Of duty be subject 70 reasonably
prompt changes. Objection Is made
that under the flexible provisions, tao
Congress will virtually abdieate its
tariff making powers and confer on the
President the power Of taxation.
The chief flexible tariff feature put
into the bill to-day provides:
THAT In order to regulate the for
NAIW NNllAlNltt VI ANt OHANfA nAAhNA
and 20 put into force and efee. the
policy Of Congress by this act in
tended, whenever the President, upon
investigation Of the differences in
costs OF production OF articles wholly
or in part the growth or product Of
the United States and OF like or
similar articles wholly or in part the
growth or product OF competing for
cign countries. shall find il thereby
shown that the duties In this act do
not cqualize the said difference in
costs Of production, he shall. by such
investigation. ascertain said differences
and determine and proclaim the
changes in classification or increases
or decreases In any rate OF duty pro-
vided in this act shown By said as
ccrtained differences in such costs Of
production necessary to equAlize the
same"
This makes II mandatory on the
President 10 change rates or classihca-
tions II investigation diseloses that the
rates or classihcAtions In force do not
equaite the differences in production
costs. Under the amendments adoptad.
increases or decreases cannot exceed
80 per cent.
The President is 70 make the Ameri-
can selling price the basis OF duty II
necessary TO equaliEe production costs,
but this proposition. as revised to-day.
applies only to dyes. eoal-tar chemicals
and certain explosives. such as T. n. 7.
Il is not Of general application.
In aseertaining difference in produc.
tion costs, the President is 20 take
into consideration, not only differences
in wages. costs or material and the
like, but advantages granted foreign
producers by their governments.
The amendments specifically require
that the investigations TO assist the
President in aseertaining differences In
costs OF production shall be made By
the United States Tariff Commission.
and no proclamation Of a change in
rate or classification shall be issued
until such investigations have been
made. The commission is authorized
to hold hearings and conduct inquiries,
and the President Is required TO make
the findings OF the commission public
as soon as practicable after issue of
a proclamation and change rates or
classifeations. The testimony before