Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-03-15
TARIFF BOARD
COMMISSIONER
QUITS IN HUFF

WASHINGTON, March IA R-The
controversy that for more than two
of the tariff commission moved to
a sharp and sudden climax today
with the resignation OF Commissioner
Edward P. Costigan, last OF the
original Wilson appointees.
In letter filled with frank per-
SonalitieS, CoStigan simultaneously
assailed President Coolidge and Com
missioners Marvin, Lowell and Bros
sard. At the White House, it was
announced that the resignation had
been accepted.
Costigan charged Mr.. Coolidge with
a refusal to act on decisive evidence
that certain tariff rates should be
lowered. The presidents course, hc
said, had "helped to wreck the COM
missions usefulness"
Terming the three commissioners
''the Marvin group" CosGigan as
serted that they had worked steadily
for higher rates and against i'm
portant reductions, RECKLESS on occa-
SionS in their treatment OF facts and
law"
CoStigan's charges were contained
in a letter addressed to Senator Rob.
inscn, of Arkansas, the democratic
floor leader, chairman of the senate
committee appointed two years ago to
investigate the tariff commission.
Mr.. Costigan declared that the
manipulation of the commission
since 1922 is but part of the total
picture of present-day Washington"
contained "in an era which history
may yet summarize as the age OF
Daugherty, Fall and Sinclair"
Chairman Marvin he described as
a ''tireleSS and fanatical protection"
ist, known in Washington as tariff
lobbyist for New England protected
interests"
mo exposures however discrediring,
of bias, partisanship and the distrust
of his associates. have SuffiCed to
break this New England slate" the.
letter added, asserting that "it is
well known in Washington that
President Coolidge has long ceased
personally to consult or place conf
dence in his own designated tariff
commission chairman"
Referring to the senate committees
failure to report on its investigation
Costigan said that his hope chat.
congress would not fail at this ses-
sion to grapple with corrective rene
dies, is extinguiShed at last.
Instead" the letter said, congress
has once more voted the commits
sion'S annual appropriation. Agri-
culture is making proper demands for
national relief, and it is easier TO use
the commission to convert farmers
to mistaken belief in tariff salvation
than to apply real and permanent
agricultural remedies"
Commissioner Brossard has long
been known in washington as a
political protege of Senator Smoot," ;"
Mr.. Costigan added, "who has created
the impression OF a biased, rs dis
tinguished from a scientific OF judicial
mind. Members of the senate investi-
eating committee are aware that
while testifying under cain, he ap-
peared at times to be cautiously hid
ing material information within his
knowledge which was sought by such
members
Commissioner Lowell '1acKs equip
ment or special qualifications for
the duties of the tariff commission, y
the letter continued, insofar as he
acts independently, he appears to vote
prejudices rather than facts and
seven seems to take pride in parad-
ing his misconception of his official
responsibilities.
"He has stated at commission meet
ings that he is opposed to dissenting
statements in reports to the preSi-
dent; that he is not the kind Oh Il
man to dissent and never will dissent,
but instead, will keep still, no matter
how much he may disagree with the
contents of such reports"
Regretting the necessity for per-
sonaI references" Mr. Costigan wrote
that "the statements are personal
because facts OF public consequence
are personal"
Included in the lengthy letter were
assertions that the commission has
failed in ether respects, particularly
in not meeting its statutory obliga-
tions to report on the effect of the
tariff on the industries and labor
of this country
San open-minded performance OF
this task by the commission would
have disclosed the use Of various
tariff fallacies to nislead farmers and
industrial workers in the United
! States,, Costigan added.
eff the commission had been prop