Middletown transcript., 1922-09-30
TARIFF MAKING UP
1.-THE PRESIDENT
New Law Gives Him Power to
Adjust Rates
HARDING LAUDS PROVISION
Calls 1t Greatest Contribution In Cen
tury," In Signing Fordney-McCum-
Der Biil-Work Through
Commission.

hington.-American tariff-mak-
ing entered a new phase with the
coming into force of the Tariff act of
1922. For the first time in history
Congress has delegated part OF it's au-
thority over taxes at the customs
houses, comforting upon the President
broad powers to increase or decrease
rates and to change from foreign to
American valuation as the basis for
assessing ad valorem duties on i'm
ports.
Referring to the sections carrying
this grant of authority, President
Harding, in attaching his signature to
the new act. declared that IF we
succeed, as | hope we will succeed, in
making effective the elastic provisions
of this bill this will prove the great
est contribution toward progress in
tarffmaking in century"
The Tariff Commission, created dur
ing the Administration of President
Wilson, will be the agency through
which the President will exercise his
new authority and present expecta-
tions are that it's work will rank al
most in Importance with that of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. The
commission will make extensive in
vestigations into cost of production at
home and abroad and will report it's
findings, with recommendation for
rate or valuation changes to the Pres
ident
Applications from manufacturers,
importers or other interested persons
for changes in rates or valuation basis
may be made to either the President
or the commission, but such as were
addressed to the Executive would be
referred to the commission. The first
step would be determination of
whether the facts presented justified
action. If the decision was that they
did, investigation and, perhaps, hear
ings would follow.
Chairman Marvin said the commits
sion had not yet had time to work out
details of methods of procedure. When
this task has been completed rules
and regulations will be made public.
While the commission has for years
been engaged in making investigations
as to differences in cost of production
at home and abroad and gathering
facts about domestic industries. Mr..
Marvin said it's functions would be
greatly enlarged under the new act
Aside from inquiring into questions
of rates, upon the commission will de-
er American commerce and trade is
being Disseminated against in foreign
countries and making recommends
tions as to means of meeting situa-
tions where discrimination is deter.
mined to exist.
The ascertainment of production
costs in foreign countries is expected
by commission officials to prove the
most difficult of the various tasks. 1t
is anticipated that in some cases the
commissions agents in foreign fields
may meet with obstacles in gathering
all the facts desired. However, in de-
termining whether there shall be
changes in tariffs. the investigating
body will not be confined alone to
actual production costs abroad but
will be authorized to take into account
selling prices in the American market
and other conditions in competition in
trade.
Treasury officials, in discussing the
new act, said that although no reor
ganization of the customs service
would be required, the staffs of the
customs Offices in number of larger
ports of entry would have to be ex
panded to handle the increased vol
ume of work.
Immediately after the Tariff act was
signed by the President kilograms
were sent from the Treasury to Col
lectors of Customs, advising then
that the new law would become ef
fective at midnight.
Returning to the House after the
bill was signed, Chairman Fordney
made a speech declaring that any
advance in retail prices because o.
the operation Of the new law was
unwarranted.
"In view of the present high price:
and enormous profit in foreign goods
sold in our markets." Mr. Fordne,
told the House, there Is not thu
slightest ground for an appreciable III
crease in retail prices in any goods
foreign or domestic, and whoever 81
does will be a profiteer, pure and sim
pie. Any such unjustifiable act
should be met, not by repeal of thi
American measure, but by stringen
laws making profiteering crime, ant
Misrepresentation of the tariff incre
ment in sale prices punishable as oh