The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-01-03
FLEXIBLE TARIFF
CLAUSE ADVANTAGE

Tariff legislation has been and will
continue to be as long as the public
estimation remains in its present
state, a furious contest of selfishness,
a maze of ill-advised injudicious
opinions, because the rate schedule,
which in our minds is the only consid-
Grafton, can never be anything but
a local issue, declared w w. Nichols,
of the Allis-C Chalmers Manufacture
ing Company, addressing the conven-
ton of the American Manufacturers
Export Association in New York City
recently.
Mr.. Nichols continued: Tariff
legislation has been the rule of every
change in party administration since
1886. There is nothing more partiEan
IN its proceedings or more perplexing
to honest and conscientious law-mak-
ers. Congress, whose function it is
to compose compromises in r%econcil-
ing many local differences of opinion,
rather merits our heartfelt sympa-
thy in its periodic effort under sucn
conditions to satisfy constituencies
who will never think alike on these
measures. Unless l am greatly mis-
taken, a healthy realization of the de-
fects of our governmental procedure
in tariff administration appears for
the first time in the Fordney-CcCum
Der act, which promises modification
of exiting practices so detrimental
to continuing prosperity in business"
The speaker no doubt had reference
to the so-called flexible provision in
the new tariff law, which finds great
favor with the business men of the
country. John E. Edgerton, presi-
dent of the National Association of
Manufacturers, a few days after the
present tariff law was passed, said of
that provision: Whatever differ
ences of opinion may arise with re-
spect to rates and schedules in the
tariff act of 1922, it's administrative
provisions represent a great con-
structive advance. Within a stand
ard established by the Congress, the
chief executive, upon the ~investiga-
ton and recommendation of the tariff
commission, may adjust rates within
so per cent limits, to equalize costs of
production in our competition with for
eign producers" Mr.. Edgerton ex-
pressed his belief that if this provis-
ion were found to be constitutional,
"the occasion for general political re-
visions of tariff rates is passed"
In short, insofar as is humanity pos
sible, the Republican Congress has
met the wishes of anever-growinQ
number of men engaged in business
to take the tariff out of politics.
The success of the attempt, of course
will depend upon the view which thu
Z. S. supreme court takes of thu
delegation of authority to the presi
dent to fix tariff rates within pre-
scribed limitations. On that poin
there is still considerable differenc
Of opinion, those who question tn
right so delegated declaring that j
it can be done with respect to the tar
iff it may as rightfully be done wit
respect to other general tax measures
with the ultimate result that Congress
need only fix boundaries, howeve
wide, and the executive may do tn
rest. This introduces a new prime
pie into the American system wit
= the final decision up to the courts an
= people.
The flexible provision in the tart.
: law received the most violent col
Y domination from the Democrats
Congress. The Republicans free
= acknowledged that it was experiment
l. al. 1t has not yet had time to pro
h its efficiency, nor has its constit
tionality been settled. But practics
ly every manufacturer and busine
j man in the country is pleased with
l. as it stands, and since the %agricultul
n interests have received adequate pl
20 lection in the law, and the flexit
a. provision applies to them as well,
appears certain that, assuming
constitutionality, it's only arch-ener
is the Democratic party.