Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-11-16
TARIFF CHANGES
MAY BE DECREED
COMM SSIoN is READY TO BEGIN
INQUIRIES ON REQUESTS
FOR ALTERATIONS.
POWER RESTS IN PRESIDENT
He Will Raise or Lower the Duties as
the Experts Advise After lnvestoa-
tion--Several Petitions Already Have
Been Received.
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK

BY EDWARD B. CLARK
Washington.-The tariff commission
is just about to get down TO its work.
II is pretty generally known that the
President is contemplating, through the
ftariff commission after inquiry, the re-
duction for some duties which he
thinks are too high. 1t is not at all
beside the mark to say that ii is pos
sibie the thoughts OF the President on
this subject may be the thoughts of
majority OF his party In congress.
However, the congress which passed
the tariff bill put in it provision I'M
der which the President will act
through the tariff commission in the
work of raising or lowering schedules,
as ii may be found that the business
of the country demands II is new
thing which is to be tried out The
lawmakers fixed rates and then fixed
a means by which after inquiry the
rates could be changed.
II is not known definitely yet just
how far the President, working
through the tariff commission. will go
in the matter of changing some of the
schedules. There are both Democrats
and Republicans here who say he will
have trouble on his hands if he at
tempts TO change any of the duties
which his party has enacted into law.
Controverting this, there are plenty
of high tariff Republicans in congress
who are ready TO say they are willing
/ to trust the matter entirely in the
hands of the President and to rest on
the Judgment of the inquiries OF the
tariff commission.
Already several petitions have been
received by the tariff commission in
which downward revision is requested
on some of the schedules. Also some
requests have been made for increases
in some schedules. 1t is certain the
commission will have work enough on
its hands.
Not a Real Party Issue.
There is unquestionaby in the Re
publican party an element which hopes
, that the President working through
J the commission will do something &c
lower some OF the present tariff rates
There also unquestionably is another
element in the party which does MOI
, believe that any tariff rate can be too
high. There are some few high pro
: lection Democrats in congress, not
withstanding the fact that the part!
as party is for lower rates on mos
of the things which today are "higl
in the CUSTOMS
The tariff in recent years has becom,
less and less of real party issue il
one sense, because certain manufac
turing interests in strong Democratic
strongholds have demanded high rate
of duty, while certain agricultural in
terests in Republican strongholds haV,
demanded lower rates on a good man.
articles. AS whole. however. the Re
publican party is the champion of higl
tariff, and the Democratic party tn
champion of a low tariff.
Inquiries Will Take Time.
If the public, or amy part of it, shal
expect immediate decision on the par
Of the tariff commission as to an In
crease in this rate or decrease i
that one, there will be disappointment
The commission will act only after
thorough investigation, and histor
shows that investigations into tn
rights and the wrongs of tariff matter
as they affect certain industries ar
long drawn out affairs. The financ
committee of the senate and the way
and means committee Of the house bt
fore they sanction tariff bills hold e.
tended sessions This is as true i
Republican tariff making as it is /
Democratic tariff making
SO il is that if the worsted schet
ules or the lumber schedules or an
other of the schedules are to be give
consideration by the commission with
view to a change in rates, there mu.
be hearings, Investigations. and eve
field work before a decision in any pa
ticular case can be reached. This wi
take time, but the promise is that III
things win be done as expeditiOusly 8
possible.
II has been said 1.-The tariff we has
always with us" This saying.
course, had reference 10 the fact tn,
every time there is a change Of admir-
istration q new tariff bin must /
made. 1t seems likely that the sayir
will have double force because with
virile commission at work the tariff
some form or another now is likely
be before the country In season an
out.