Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-26


ccdure now followed that can be
made use Of
An outstanding fact about the mat
ter is that the President must rely
upon the commission for full inquiry
and for the facts upon which lie is
TO act. 1t Is manifestly impossible
for the chief executive to make
personal study of given schedule OF
the tariff act and of all the conditions
surrounding the production of COM
modities covered In that schedule, in
order TO determine whether a pre-
vaiiinG rate is too high or too low.
The Tariff Commission is eager TO
hurry it's Investigations into the
complaints filed, but it is handicap
ped by the fact that Congress failed
To allow that body any additional
FUNDS 10 cover the expenses of such
work. 1t is necessary for tho conf
mission TO proceed with its inquiries
through its present organization.
Commission Ia Ready.
This circumstance. Il is in.imatcd,
is responsible for the delay in pass
ing reports along to the President.
The commission itself is impatient
to begin functioning. Members or
that body believe that Congress has
given 1t the first opportunity ever
presented 10 make OF the Commits
full agency OF the government. and
II Is the hope of individual commits
SioHers that in time the tariff will lie
dealt with in the same judicial and
scientific manner as are railroad
problems handled by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
This commission has not figured
constructvcly In the preparation Of
'arin bills during its life. l; is an
IF FxN,.
er tho Ways and Means Committee
nor tho Finance Committee of this
Congress made use of tho valuable
Information in tho hands OF the
commission in drafting the Fordncy-
Motumber bill. Il would rot he ac-
crrate To say that tho commission
was ignored by Congress.
reports madc by the commission
were submitted to tho congressional
committees. but they figured very lit
tie in drafting the important schcd-
ulcs which were eventually enacted
/ ii'io law. suggestions of the COM
! m!SSioncrS bearing upon the admins
| tr"tivc features Of tho new tariff bill
were taken into account, but the leg
islators insisted upon fixing all rates
themselves. and tariff rates. after
all. are the vital parts of any tarinr
legislation.
Back In October. after tho new
tariff bill had been enacted tho
president Issued an executive order
under which all applications for re-
lief under the "nexibility" sections
ct the law should he filed with the
TariT Commission for such inves-
tisatiom as shall he in accordance
with law and tho public interest un-
der The rules and regulations to be
prescribed by the commission"
commenting upon the law ana tho
order OF the President. Edward T..
I"stean. II member OF the Tariff
( commission says:
The power 10 decrease or increase
'hris duties within specified limits
ana without further congressional
action is Il unique and sisniiican, cx-
pertinent. 1t Is the result of a non
n!ar aud business demand for greater
! elasticity in tariff making, In order
to meet rapidly changing economic
conditions in this country and
abroad.
conditions ChnnSc Rapidly.
! This legislation is also, In rart.
! undoubtedly designed to offset wide
spread discomfort with cx partc
/ hearings and oId-fashioned log-rou-
ing methods in tariff making. as well
a. to lessen the dissatisfaction which
always grows up under long-contin-
ued. rigid tariff laws
The Tariff Commissions original
powers II is further pointed out
were wholly Investigators These
| powers have now been enlarged and
that body is now free to bring "a
tho attention or the Pres dent any
rates OF duty which are found to he
!nequitabie and which ought to b,
changed.
This means. OF course, that for The
hrst time Ia history a test is TO b,
made Of the dcsirahil!ty OF authoriz.
ING nonpartisan commission to in.
HiSdte actual rates OF duty within tn,
limits hNch by Congress. The now
law. from the standpoint of lega
analogy. presents parallel to ia,
railroad statutes under which the In,
teTSiatc Commerce Commission now
determines the rcasonablcncss OF rail
road rates.
~ remains for the President an,
IN" commission TO vindicate the pow
crs they enjoy by specific action OF
existing rates against which com
plants have been fled and business
interests arc awaiting with keen in
tereSt the first reports submitted [,
the President by the commission an,
, the attitude Of the President towar,
such hndiagS.