THE TARIFF BOARD 395 
the board and to permit it and its agents, to examine all papers, 
statistics, evidence, files, etc., in their custody. Such a course would 
commend itself on the ground of dispensing with duplication of labor 
and therefore saving expense to the government. 
From these considerations it will appear that the scope of the act 
providing for the tariff board is sufficiently broad for present purposes, 
and the only action from congress needed is to provide adequate appro- 
priations. To bring about this result, the continued interest, on the 
part of all persons who desire intelligent tariff laws, and their reason- 
able and honest administration, is required. 
The board can not assume or be given the congressional prerogative 
of making the rates any more than the president can make the rates 
under this law. He can proclaim the event, upon the happening of 
which congress says the different rates shall go into effect. The Supreme 
Court so held in Field vs. Clark, 148 U. S., 692. 
As time shows the necessity, and the work of the board commends 
itself, or requires it, changes doubtless will be needed in the law; 
notably some provision authorizing the tariff board to present the facts 
directly to the ways and means committee, whenever any tariff legisla- 
tion is before congress. The board should furnish data and memoranda 
with verifying witnesses, who could be examined by the ways and means 
committee and by parties interested. In this way the whole people of 
the country would be represented before the committee in a substantial 
manner, where now they are practically unrepresented so far as the 
presentation of the case by witnesses and counsel is concerned. As a 
check upon the accuracy of the work of the board, parties interested 
should have the privilege of cross-examination, and also the right to 
bring before the congressional committee, which is independent of the 
board and of the department to which it belongs, experts of their own; 
these experts in turn to be subject to cross-examination by counsel 
representing the tariff board. 
Congress has taken a great step towards the scientific disentangle- 
ment of the tariff subject, and towards the consequent enlargement of 
our foreign trade, and it only remains for the people of the United 
States to give their cordial support to the board in every reasonable 
endeavor it makes to obtain the facts which are at the basis of the 
solution of this intricate and vexing question. Thus will future con- 
gresses be able and willing to deal with the tariff in an equitable way. 
