The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-05-02
President Decides
On Policy OF Tariff
Commission

WASHINGTON, April 24.-In his
decision as to the proper policy of
The tariff commission in conducting
hearings on proposed tariff changes,
President Harding has once more
given the country an illustration OF
IFS strict adherence to the letter and
spirit of law. There was a contro-
versy among the MEMBER Of the
commission over the question whether
that body should initiate investiga-
tlons or merely conduct hearings
when petitions are filed asking for
changes in tariff rates. Some of the
members, according to reports, be-
iieved that the commission has au-
thority to proceed on its own initial
i've, without limitation. Others held
that it should investigate tariff rates
only where complaint is made by cit
liens affected thereby. President
Harding did not side entirely with
either view, but settled the dispute
In accordance with what is clearly the
intent of the law.
Section 315 of the Tariff Act of
1922 provides that whenever the
president, upon Investigation of the
differences in cost of production OF
articles wholly or in part the growth
or product of the United States and
of like or similar articles wholly OF
in part the growth or product Of com
peting foreign countries, shall fine
it thereby shown that the duties fixet
in this act do not equalize the sale
differences in cost of production il
the United States and the principa
competing country, ne shall, by sucl
investigation, ascertain said differ
ences and determine and proclaim tn
changes in classifications or increase
or decreases in any rate of duty pro
vided in this act" etc. The sam
section also provides that investiga
tions to assist the president in as
: certaining the differences in cost O
production shall be made by the Unit
: ed States tariff commission.
= 1t will be noted particularly tina
the act vests in the president alon
the authority to investigate, and tn
tariff commission is directed to as
. sist. The spirit of the law is full
maintained by that portion of Pres:
dent Harding's decision in which n
directs that in cases where no pet
lions have been filed, whenever
preliminary inquiry or survey di:
v closes sufficient grounds, under tn
1 law, the commission, "after confer
ence with the president" will orde
such formal Investigations unde
: Section 315 as the facts may warrar
and the public interest require.
By stipulating that there shall /
e "a conference with the president
/ before the commission enters upon
thorough investigation on its own il
d i~tiative, the president retains the flu
d responsibility placed upon him by la
and precludes the assumption {
v power by the commission in excess {
d that intended to be bestowed upon
/ 1t is almost universal experience tn;
g a new bureau finds opportunity earl
a in its career to stretch its authorit
WYNN btC AAAn4b VI OIQlldIY rex
Interpretation. Thus bureaucrac
n grows upon itself. By the qualifyir
terms of his decision in the recent di
pute, President Harding prevents ar
y such development in the case of Il
n tariff commission, but at the san
g time gives the country the benefit
any meritorous suggestions the con
d mission may make, if approved at
n conference with the president.
le A president who believes in on
2 man government would have 70
u. hidden the commission to make al
e, suggestions on its own initiative.
p president inclined to shirk reEpons
,e bility would have given the commi
&c sion carte blanche. President Har
r ing did neither. He encourages su
n gestiOns, but accepts the responsib
ity placed upon him by the law.
is
We GARY AND AnMINIqTR ALTON