Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-18
TARIFF BODY LIKE
|. c. c. IS PROPOSED
Administration Officials Re-
ported Behind Move to Re-
construct Board.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

From an authoritative quarter the
news Is forthcoming that the Coolidge
administration is being urged to adj
vocate sweeping changes in the CON
struction of the United States Tariff
Commission system. The project Spe-
officially put forward for consideration
is the conversion of the commission
into a tariff rate-fixing body on lines
which make the Interstate Commerce
Commission railroad rate fixing
body. Politics. as we'll as practical re-
form in tariff procedure, is at the bot
tom of the proposals.
Powerful elements within the Re
publican party are demanding tariff
reduction from the standpoint of po-
litical eXpediency. Others, equally in
fiuential in party councils, are point
ing out that the only way tn ward off
protracted tariff battle. with possibly
grave consequences to the Republican
party. is to tear down the Tariff Com
mission structure in it's present form
and rebuild it. 1t should be remade.
proponents of the new idea contend.
on the rule of reason"
Herbert Hoover's name is in no way
connected with the scheme. but it
happens to be ba sed on his well known
strike, that American private business
should settle it's own disputes and
correct its own abuses.
Authority Conserved.
The Coolidge administration has
resolutely set it's face against the idea
of utilizing Federal authority for com
posing the differences that periodi-
cally crop up between capital and
labor. Advocates of the reorganiZed
Tariff Commission system claim for
il that it IS a logical extension of the
process of creating q proper relation
ship between government and bust
ness. Their idea is that the commits
sion should become a body to which
individual industries of their own ac-
cord would have recourse in seeking
either increased or decreased tariff
duties.
Pate schedules under such a sys-
tenn would be MISUNDERSTANDING,
according to economic conditions
without necessitating tariff legisla-
ton bys Congress at frequently re-
curing intervals. This was the sort
Of thing contemplated when the
Tariff Commission was established.
But it Is notorious that it has not
functioned correspondence. 1t has
conspicuously failed so to function
since the flexible tariff law came into
effect in 1922.
America has industries which can
today afford substantial reductions in
certain tariffs, while needing higher
rates in other directions. 1t is held
that these industries themselves
should he prepared voluntarily to
seek capitalization at the hands of
the Tariff Commission. On such oc-
casions the commission would auto
matically function as watchdog of the
public interest.
Reform Demand Seen,
A demand for Tariff Commission
reorganization either from the admin
istration or Congress, or from both is
generally foreshadowed as the result
of the forthcoming senatorial inveSti
cation. The inquiry will show that
the commissions present methods and
machinery are cumbersome and sub
versive of progress in tariff practice
Since the present law went into eff
feet on September 90, 1922, there have
been AGA applications for action under
he flexible tariff section no. $3.50. AL
though 81 Investigations were insti.
tuted looking toward either decreases
or increases Of existing rates. ONLY II
caSeS-that is, to say, only One-third
of the number of cases investigated
were completed and sent to the Presi-
dent. In nine of these, rates of dutv
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