Speech #530121420

They shallharepower to -employ a clerk. a stenographer.and a messenger. and. with the approval of the Secretaryof the Treasmy..such.other clerical.assistants as shall.be.necessary to the performance of their duties. and at such rates -of compensation as they may establish. with the approvalofthe Secretary of the Treasury. -Their salaries. expenses.:and the compensationof the clerk. stenographer. messenger. and such additional clerical force as may thus be employed .shall bepaid out of anymoney in the.Treasury.not otherwise:appropriated. .upontheauditingof:the same. according to the usual course inthe Treasury Department. -SE.I-. Thatthe commission shall establish its permanent office.at the city of Washington.-where it shall be at all timestn the usual course of business. ready to hear or receive oral or written testimony upon all the :specific :subjects.mentioned.in this act. andgenerallyupon everything relating directly or indirectly to customs duties andrevenue. fSE. -. That it shall _bethe duty of ithe said commission.to examine into and ascertain the average.price of commodities -imported into the United States..both at wh6lesdle and retail in tneUnited States. and both in the United -States and in the foreign places:of production. sale.or shipment. for the period of .twelve:months preceding !and.Vwelvemonths follovngany - chane in the rateof -customs duties~imposed upon such commodities.:and this inquiry Ahall.be carried -back. for a.perlod df tweityflve years. -and moreifdeemed advisableby such commission and:shall extendto alliacts relating to demand and suply. domestic .and foreign..which tend :to in"fluence prices of:such -comfiiodities. foreign and .domestic. and to aid in determining the true 6ffect of the insportduty. or of the change therein in the seyeral cases upon domestic and foreign prices. and upon productions of thesameor.of other commodities. upon zevenue. upon immigration. upon profits of capital. rates ofuwages.-and the general welfare. Second. To ascertain the amounts in quantityand value of the importation of the principal commodities duringeach of said periods of twelve months preceding. and succeeding anysuch change in customs duties.