The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-08

BroaderPower
Is Sought For
Tariff Board
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The IntelliEencer)

Washington. July 7.--President Hard
ing wants the powers OF the tariff
commission enlarged and he will insist
upon a provision TO that effect IN the
pending tariff bin.
Senator MCCumber. chairman % the
finance committee OF the senate. has
just announced on the floor OF the
senate that MANY Of the changes in
the bill since It's Introduction have
been occasioned by changing conditions
from day TO day. Mr.. Harding Is
among those who believes that IL con-
ditions change while the bin is under
consideration they win change when Il
Is law and some permanent machinery
FOR alteration must be provided because
the senate finance committee cannot
STAY In continuous session 10 do the
Job when once the measure Is law.
The president IS prepared 70 make an
earnest appeal for the transfer OF this
problem 10 the hands OF the tariff COM
mission. This body at present has
only powers OF Inquiry and study. For
genera tionS Il has been argued that the
tariff could be taken out Of politics II
the subject could be handled BY a tariff
commission. The president has the
grea test opportunity an American prest-
dent has ever had 70 overcome the tra-
ditional objections IN congress 10 the
giving UP BY congress Of the task OF
making tariff bills. Heretofore. the
power has been jealousy guarded be-
cause OF a fear that the protectionist
or tariff Tor revenue only principles
would be aba andoned according as the
tariff commission was composed OF
those who leaned toward the Democratic
,f ~ ~
Within the last few days the Republican
national committee has taken fling at
me movement ror r mon PARTISAN tariff
com mission" b. Insisting that there
could be no such thing as one or the
other OF the two principles must pre-
vail.
Rsrding . protectionst
Mr. Harding Is a rrotectioniSt He
quiets the fears Of those N-ho would
hesitate 70 give tire full power to
tartY commission BY urSinE that the
commission should merely recommend
and that the chief executive should
have the power TO proclaim the tariff
duties as conditions change.
This correspondent has been assured
that Mr.. Harding stands today On the
recommendations ne made in his De-
cember address 10 congress. in which
he said:
Y hope a way will he found 20 make
Tor hex!oilicy and Ala <tlrity So that
rates NAV be adjusted 20 meet unusual
and changing conditions which cannot
Re accurately anticipated. These are
proble ems incident to unfair practices
and 20 exchanges which madness In
money have made almost unsolvasle.
know Of no manner IN which TO affect
this hexibil!tv other than the extension
OF the powers OF the tariff commission
50 that x can adapt itself 70 scientific
and wholly just administration OF the
law
II am not unmindtul OF the constitu-
,.onal difficulties. These can be met
hv giving authority 70 the chief execu-
tive who could proclaim additional
duties TO meet conditions which the
conf Eress may designate The grant of
authority to proclaim would, necessarily.
bring the tariff commission into new
a7a enlarged activities. because no
executive could discharge such duty
except upon the Information acquired
and recommendations made ny this com
mission But the plan Is feasible and
the prope- tunctionirR ~ the board
would E!vs vs hecter administration
Of a defined policy than ever can be
made possible bv tariff duties prescribed
without Asv!5:Ney"
ProtscNonist Policy
BY the phrase adm! nIstratioa % a
defined policy" the president means -
his own case a proteccion!s: policy. The
evils Of a tariff Law are not usually
oae Of principle. but the application Of
principle. II IS more often question
o. whether the protection is for the
manufacturer or the consumer ard
whether the protection. x Z is FOR the
manufacturer. Is sutlcter. 70 keep OUT
foreign competition without raising
the price TOO high for the American
consumer. As cost Of production and
labor conditions fuctua;e. the statistics
on which congress levies its duties also
change Mr.. Harding wants The pro-
teot!ortst policy applied honestly. He
na,Isves a tariff commission could con-
stan,lv furnish the data and the chief
executive could thus change the duties
from time 10 time 10 conform 10 the
huctuation in economic conditions
throughout the country.
sTany Are nukevarm
MANY Of the Republicans who are 10
vote ror the pending tar<T bill will do
so with a lukewarm feeling. They know
ths bin win cause dissatisfaction later
on They would welcome. therefore.
sonre corrective machinery which would.
n !tsel,. constitute an assurance
aEa!nS, the bad working ~ IN" pending
measure Congress would always he
able % revoke the power given the
executive - = were abused. The say
ing OF ti-re ard trouble ror members of
congress. + - realized. would be 4 big
advantage ASIDE from that however.
the president is confident II will he
hetter ror the rour:ry-hoth for the
nanura cturers and corsumers-Ir they
could be sure oS 4 square deal AT all
times BY a body Of experts responsible
70 the executive alone and not particu-
ar constituencies with naturally biased
viewpoints.