Evening star., 1923-03-26
TARIFF FPROBE SCOPE
AWAITS PRESIDENT
Conference With Commits
sion Upon His Return
Expected.

Replying to a request of the Fair
Tariff League that the scope of the
Investigations under the so-called
flexible tariff provisions OF the Ford
ney-McCumber tariff act be widened.
Chairman Thomas o. Marvin OF the
commission said, In n letter to H. L.
Miles, chairman of the league:
THE Presidents attention has been
called to the question of broadening
the scope of Investigations to be
conducted by the Tariff Commission
and he has arranged to confer with
the commission on this subject upon
his return to Washington"
Mr.. Marvin referred to the law,
which gives the President authority
to modify tariff rates within certain
limitations after the tariff commits
sion has conducted Investigations.
and to the executive order OF the
President of last October. directing
that all applications for investiga-
tions shall be made to the commits
zion. He made the point that until the
President approves the commission can
not undertake Investigations for which
applications have not been received.
Continuing, Mr.. Marvin said:
Commission Criticiscd.
I'm the absence of instructions
from the President other than those
contained in the executive order of
October T. the commission, by unani-
nous vote of five commissioners pres
ent. authorized Investigations of ar
ticles upon which application for
changes in the rates OF duty had been
filed You may rest assured when
ever other or additional instructions
are received by the commission that
1T will proceed thoroughly and ener-
The Fair Tariff League, through
Mr.. Miles. addressed letters both to
the President and to the Traffic Com
mission. criticising the commission.
He says that the trivial char
acter OF the articles which the COM
mission proposes to investigate. as
announced several days ago. He in
sists that with the possible exception
of sugar the other sixteen articles are
utterly .trfiing. as affecting the cost
of living and the public interest"
Seek Lower Duties.
The Tariff Commission has begun
work already to determine whether
changes in the rates provided in the
new tariff law on seventeen commodi-
ties are advisable. 1t is asserted by
members of the commission that II
will be several months before recon-
mendations are ready for the Presl-
dent. who, under the provisions of the
tariff act, has authority to alter du-
ties, if he deems 1t necessary. follow
ing investigation by the commission.
Cuban producers, 1t Is said, nave
petitioned for a decrease in sugar
duties, while a manufacturer OF paint
brush handles. with "A factory in Can
ada is seeking a lower rate on TINS
product. a paper manufacturer, using
casein as a raw material, has request
ed decrease in the duty on II.
lower rate also having been asked
on mirror plates by furniture deal
ers.
Applications for increased rates are
all from manufacturers. Higher
duties are sought on pig iron, oxalic
acid, diethyl barbituric acid and Its
derivatives, logwood extract, sodium
nitrate Swiss pattern files. cotton
gloves made OF warpsknit FABRIC. cot
and artificial OF ornamental fruits
vegetables, grains. leaves. flowers and
the like.
Probe Is Urged.
An application for heavier duty on
barium dioxide was made by manu-
facturer, while request for de-
crease was received from a manufac-
turer importing hydrogen peroxide.
A manufacturers petitioned for an In
crease in the duty on potassium
chlorate a manufacturer Of matches
countering with a request for a de-
crease.
Every trust and overprotected in
terest Is absolutely protected. not
only from a correction OF Its rates
but from investigation, II 81 claimed
by the Fair Tariff League. The
league suggests that the commission
enlarge it's Investigations. 1t urges
Investigations vital to the public
welfare. covering the basic steel In
duetrics. plate and pressed glass. the
aluminium trust, hosiery and knit
goods. the fle trust, the indicted
window glass trust. the recently con-
victed sanitary ware trust, etc" Excess
sive rates on these and other prime
necessariea are costing the public
from $6.000.000 to S10.000,000 per day,
1t liz asserted.
Expressing regret in his letter to
the President that "details Of the
tariff and rate-making were added
by Congress to your infinite and
greater responsibility" MIR Miles de-
would have him determine the
proper. tariff on paint brush handles.
artificial flowers and the wall pocket
in which some OF us put our whisk
brooms." and other petty commod-
tiles. while the heads of the great
nations are busy with world affairs.
the Ruhr. Russia, central Europe
and other issues 40 different from
paint brush handles and wall
pockets"
Refers to Controversy.
Sugar excepted" says the Fair
Tariff League in supplemental
statement issued with the letters to
the President and the Tariff Commits
sion, mot a single public interest of
large moment is included In the in
yestigation."
I'VE sincerely hope" says the let
ter to the President in conclusion.
that You will quickly instruct the
commission to address itself to the
more important industries so long
matter of unhappy and general
controversy"
&5n0 nm MlIckRAT