Evening star., 1926-03-22
COOLIDGE UNM0VED
BY TARIFF INQUIRY
First Probe Aimed Directly at
Him Fails to Disturb
Chief Executive.
BY ROBERT T.. SMALL.

On the eve of the beginning OF the
Senate's investigation of The TArlH
Commission, which il recuG ntHed as
move directed against President Cool
idge himself. iIe President L. reported
to be not the least perturbeu. 1t Is
said by those who have talked with
him on the subject that he IL salts
fled with every move he has made re-
garding the commission and that he
has no apologies to offer.
This invest cation of the Tariff Com
mission Is unique. 1t Is the f1rst In
quiry actually involving the Coolidge
administrations All of the other III
VeStigations OF the past two or three
years, including the oil and Daugh-
erty probes, had to do with acts of
the Harding administration. Presi-
dent Coolidge sat placidly by with the
fun knowledge that nothing in these
inquiries could attach to him.
With the present inquiry. which Will
be conducted under the craftsmanship
OF the Democratic leader In the Sen
ate Senator Robinson of Arkansas. Ii
IL different. All of the acts complained
of in the debates which preceded the
ordering of the inquiry. were laid dl-
rectly or Indirectly at the door OF
President Coolidge.
Hope to "Get Something"
There Is no question but that the
Democrats hope to get something
on the President which can he used
in the campaign this Fall. and. If sue
cessful there can he held over for
further use in 1925.
The Democrats have made up their
minds that it Is President Coolidge
rather than the Republican party
which they have TO fight. The Repub-
liCanS want President Coolidge to be
the issue in the coming campaigns.
The Democrats want to attack that
issue.
President Coolidge Is reported as
firmly convinced that his every act
with respect to the Tariff Commission
and its personnel was correct. from his
point OF View. lie has asked no one
to explain his position OF to apologize
for him.
This is the Presidents first real eX
perience with IL congressional investi-
eating committee. lie knows little OF
the skill with which such committee
sometimes can present its facts to the
public. AT the moment, nevertheless.
MIR. Coolidge seems the least interested
of any one directly or remotely con
nected with the inquiry. His attitude
is not described as dislainful. but
rather as confident.
Body Called Useless.
Meantime there Is much discussion
i'm Washington as to the usefulness
or uSeleSsness of the Tariff Commits
sion. The preponderance of opinion
appears to be that uselessness is the
word
The theory that the Tariff Commits
sion would take the tariff out OF poll
tics has proved all wrong. The tariff
will forever he Ii political issue. 1t
has proved 50 valuable to the Re-
publicans they never want to give 1t
up. The Democrats appear to be
satisfied to play the Republican
game by opposing protection in the
ory and voting for 1t when the prod
ucts of their own districts are In
volved.
There is a growing sentiment In
the Capitol that the present investi-
cation may pave the way to abol-
fishing the commission, although the
Democrats connected with the in
quiry disclaim any such intention.
If the Tariff Commission is to be
considered purely as "A fact finding
body the work which 1t is doing, 1t
is admitted could better be per-
formed by a bureau in the Depart
HlcHl VI loE StdlitS.
Bureaus Advantages.
In such a bureau the investigators
would be men OF the civil service es-
tabishment who would have no poll
teal interest one way or the other
to serve.
AS fact-fnding body 1t hardly
seems necessary that expensive and
politically minded commissioners
should be named to do or direct the
work. 1t would better be done by
some permanent branch of the Gov
ernment under civil service rules.
AS bureau work. under the Depart
ment OF Commerce. inquiries into
tariff matters would be In their
natural atmosphere. The Depart me mt
OF Commerce Is collecting trade in
formation all the time. Recommends
tions on the tariff facts would be left
to the Secretary of Commerce and
naturally reflect the views Of the ad-
minlstration in power. 1t is recognized
the tariff must always reflect one or
another political opinion. A tariff
bureau would take much of the burden
off the President. At the present time
virtually the whole burden of final
decision rests on the Chief Executive.
The tariff commissioners can step
from under That is why the nresent