Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-10-19
legislation in the past and / am satisfied

problem. No tariff bills found their way
into the statute books of the country a,
the result of fair, impartial and scientific
inquiry. No tariff bill has ever been pro.
duced as result of report of an impartia
fact-hnding body The tariff has been in
politics and tariff bills have uniformly beer
the result of what we call legislative log
rolling. Special interests represented al
Washington have been in a position to
write their own schedules, the final pro.
duct has been a compromise and clearly
indicates that even the most conscientious
members of Congress were without the
necessary information on which to pass
an intelligent, businesslike tariff measure
Complaint of tariff bills was SO pro-
nounced that the progressive members Of
both political parties twenty years ago
recommended that there be some scientific
basis for tariff legislation and sought
means by which the facts necessary for
the information of Congress on this subject
might be procured by an impartial fact
finding body AS far back as 1909 several
bills for the creation of such a commission
were introduced in the national Congress
but went to death in committee.
Under clause of the tariff act of 1909
the President was given the power to ap-
point board to advise him with respect
to foreign tariffs discriminating against
American products. Under this provision
President Taft appointed a board made
up OF three Republicans. The following
year there was proposed bill to establish
a bipartisan commission to deal generally
with the tariff but it was killed
Notwithstanding its defeat, the Presi-
dent added two Democratic members to
the existing tariff board to the end that
he might carry out what he regarded as
the intent of Congress
In message to Congress on December
z, 1903, referring to his authority to ap-
point tariff board, President Taft said:
Il believe the work of this board to be
of prime utility and importance whenever
Congress shall deem it wise again to re-
adjust the custom duties. Nothing halts
business and interferes with the growth
OF prosperity so much as the threatened
revision Of the tariff and until the facts
are at hand after careful deliberate inves-
tigation, upon which such revision can
properly be undertaken. it seems to me
unwise to attempt it. The amount of mis-
information that creeps into arguments
pro and con in respect to tariff rates is
such as to require the kind of investigation
that have directed the tariff board to
make
Again he emphasized the necessity fol
tariff commission in an address at Port.
land. Oregon. on October 2, 1909, in which
he said:
You hear q great deal about the tariff
but would like to have you take up G
tariff bill and 90 through with it and ther
tell me what it means. Thy it is JUS
like so much Choctaw to man who is
not an expert"
1t will be readily understood that thi,
expression from President Taft did no
indicate on his part great deal of respec
for the common sense of the average tariff
bill. have taken occasion to look I'D hi
reference to Choctaw and find that it il
one of the largest Indian tribes with
most difficult language.
1t is a matter of history that Presiden
Taft was unable to cope with party Leaders
of his own party in carrying out tn,
principle of fact-inding by a tariff com
mission before the passage of a genera
tariff. He was astounded when he founC
how unpopular was the Payne Aldridg,
bill. accepted by him, and not based upol
any reliable information such as could b.
furnished by a tariff commission
The permanent tariff commission create,
under the act of 1916 held out to the peopI
OF this country the hope that the ambition
and ideals of Taft and Wilson would b
carried out. Under President Harding
however, the tariff commission was para
lyzed, rendered useless and relegated to
back seat when the Republican Admins
tration decided again to put the tariff int
politics and enacted the Fordney- McCum
Der tariff BILL under the old WORKOUT poit
cal method Of log-rolling and star. chambe
proceedings. 1t is matter of record tbs
the representatives of special interest
paraded through the Hobbies of the nationt
Capitol and secured for those whom the
represented tariff schedules that they de
sired, enacted largely in return for can
paign contributions. the pre- election sloga
being-small favors thankfully receive,
larger ones with proportionate amount
gratitude. could offer a great deal {
evidence to back up what just said.
As indicating clearly what Presider
Coolidge's attitude was to this importar
agency Of the Government, | shall refer
one OF the Democratic members. David .
Lewis. of Maryland. In his case Presiden
Coolidge went SO far as to ask that a lette
of resignation be left with him before h
Would reappoint Mr.. Lewis on the commits
sion. The records show this. Mr.. Culbert
son, Republican member of the commi.
sion, had an interview with the Presiden
He says:
Il received a request to come to tn
White House to see the President. wer
over Immediately. The President receive
me cordially. The President stated he in
tended to reappoint Mr.. Lewis, but that h
desired Mr. Lewis to prepare and give I,
him letter of resignation as mem
Der of the Tariff Commission. AT frs
he did not fully comprehend the nature O
the request. spoke of MIR. Lewis tern
having already expired. Then the Presi
dent explained that he wanted MIR. Levi
TO submit his resignation under the new
commission, to be effective in case h,
(the PresidenO desired at any time in tn,
future TO accept it.
THE President then handed me a shee
of white House paper so that would take
tka Af H.,