Commission Chairman

Henry Prather Fletcher's service as a private in Roosevelt's Rough Riders (1st U. S. Volunteer Cavalry) during the Spanish War was not mentioned at the White House last week as one of the official reasons why President Hoover appointed him chairman of the new Tariff Commission. But in many a mind there was a symbolic connection between Mr. Fletcher's military service and his new job.

President Hoover had searched the land over for a suitable person to head the Commission he expected to flex out the "inequalities and injustices" of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act. Scared of Senatorial inquisitions, men he wanted would not take the post. Finally he chose the suave, immaculate guide and counselor of his pre-inaugural South American tour.

A Pennsylvanian by birth (1873) and residence, Chairman Fletcher is a diplomat of 27 years' able foreign service. As a career man, he rose to be U. S. Ambassador to Chile (1914), Mexico (1916-20), Belgium (1922-24), Italy (1924-29), served as Assistant Secretary of State (1921-22) in charge of economic matters. The commercial aspects of international relations especially in Latin America have had much of his time and attention. He resigned as Ambassador at Rome last year, disappointed, some said, because the Hoover Administration had apparently neglected him.

Against his confirmation by the Senate it could be argued that he is a Republican from the state that gave the world "Grundy" tariff rates. On the other hand it could be pointed out that his long foreign service has given him a view of the U. S. high tariff wall from the outside, that he sees foreign trade and conditions in the broadest economic range. His personal record, is (or should be) above Senate attack; he has no known commercial connections to work against confirmation.

Chairman Fletcher and the five new commissioners yet to be appointed will take office Sept. 16 when the old Tariff Commission expires. In eight years the Fordney-McCumber tariff was flexed 33 times. Last week a new system of advisory boards was being worked out at the Commission's headquarters to accelerate flexing, to give President Hoover quick recommendations for rate changes he has been awaiting ever since he signed the new act last June.

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