South Bend news-times., 1922-10-29
MANY CHANGES IN
TARIFF ACT SOUGHT
FROM COMMISSION
Flexible Provisions of New
Law Make Body's Posi-
ton Important.
~ IOrIs LTDIOW.

BY LOUIS LUDLOW.
WASHINGTON. y. O.. oct. IS
The tariff comm ission has been put
"on the map" By the flexible pro-
visions OF the new tariff.
Early operation OF these provis-
ions. whereby the president will have
authority 10 raise or lower the rates
within a range Of so percent and 20
change classifcauons. as well "a
rates. and 20 proclaim American val
uation for articles not properly pro-
tected under foreign valuation. is
not expected The president has
told senators and represe natives
that he cannot make the investiga-
tions incident 20 changes that may
be requested and that the tariff com
mission is now poorly equipped 10
perform the f,dded duties which con-
gress imposed upon Il.
Already the commission Is being
evvamped with requests for tari1
changes. Representatives OF indus
tries that did not get what they de-
sired from the finance committee Of
the senate turned TO the commission
as soon as the new law went into ef-
feet Most OF the requests for new
hearings ere based on hopes OF OBJ
tanning still higher rates than the
law carries. Notwithstanding there
f. "A belief in official circles that the
new presidential powers viii De
used when proper machinery for
their operation Is provided. 10 lower
rates already regarded as too high.
- s.N l.
rates enacted into law at the close
OF congress were. as a matter OF
fact. adopted by the finance commit
tee months ago and that prices gen.
orally dropped during the year that
the Fordney bill was pending in the
senate.
Congress granted no aid to the
commission when II enlarged the
commissions functions The pres
tnt force is said to be inadequate TO
DO more than it has been doing right
along. The Frelinghuysen amend
unent, which paved the way for the
adoption OF the flexible clauses that
were written into the law. called for
an appropriation OF $1,00O,0OO. This
was more than three times the sum
ellowed the com mission for the pres
ent fiscal year. Estimates for next
years budget are now being prepar-
ed but the commission is hoping II
will not be required TO wait until
next July I for money with which to
build up an organization 10 carry
cut the new provisions. Congress
will be asked. when It recOnvenes,
nIfasn ownran~faffnn
Different schools Of tariff thought
are represented by the members Of
the tariff commission. which Is to
be hereafter so mueh in the lime
light. Thomas O. Marvin, it's chair
man. is regarded as a high protec-
Zionist. He is generally credited
with the authorship Of Schedule X
of the Payne-Aldrich law, whicn
raised such a fuss. Mr.. Marvin Is
from Massachu and holds rig
Idly to the New England theory Of
a protective tariff. Two others mem
hers. William Burgess CT Pennsylva-
mia, and William S. CulbertsOn Of
Kansas. vice-Chairman OF the com
mission. are regarded as high protec-
tionists
Edward P Costigan OF Colorado
formerly was a Progressive and was
appointed 70 the commission as suCn.
One OF the early factors that brought
hls party into existence was opposi-
tion to the high rates or the Payne
Aldrich tariff
The Democratic mem bers are Da-
vid J. Lewis OF Maryland and ThOm-
as Walker Page Of irginia. The la
ter has high reputation as a tariff
expert. Both Democratic members
espouse ths tariff for revenue only
that their party stands for but lewis
also holds free trade ideas not sane
toned by the recent Democratic con-
VtntiOns
Politicians are seeking 10 esta b.
lsh the point that the advanced idea
written into the law does not con-
template a non partisan tariff or
anything approaching IT, John T.
adams. chairman of the Republican
national committee, is recalling that
the Chicago convention reaffrmed
its belief in the proteetive principle
and pledged the republican party to
q tariff revision based on this prin-
Ciple while the Democrats at san
Francisco, in affirming their adher-
encc 10 a tariff for revenue only. de-
cared for a policy Of basing tariff
reviEons upon the intelligent re-
search OF a non-partsan commits
sion
The people OF this country gave
their Endorsement" said Chairman
Adams go a straight declaration of
the Republican party and not to the
q -c,aratCn of the Democratic party
In favor Of a so-caIed 'nOn-partisan
tsrin a meaningless phrase which
ln practice has always proved to be
only another name for opposition TO
the Republican protective tariff
policy
The people OF the United States
id not vote u 1920 in favor or a
non-partisan administration or a
Ion-partisaa tariff. There are two
schools Of partisanship in this ccun-
try on the tariff question. one in
favor OF protection anG the other Ia
favor OF tariff for revenue. or inaG-
equate protection. There is no non
partisan ground between these two
positions. Protection has always
teen a fundamental Republican doc
trlne'
Ri Careful, IN YOVR RIYUNC