"WILL MEAN DISASTER"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 145, 23 June 1930, Page 9

"WILL MEAN DISASTER"

AMERICAN TARIFF

LAST VIGOROUS STAND

"If the Tariff Bill becomes a law nothing short of a miracle can.save the country from economic, disaster and tho Republican Party from certain repudiation by the country," prophesied Senator M'.Kellar, the Democratic-represen-tative of Tennessee, in the closing stages of the Senatorial struggle before the Tariff was passed. A charge that President Hoover was absolutely responsible and has been' for a long time f or ; the muddled condition of the present Tariff' Bill was hurled by Democrats on the eve of/ tho crucial test in the Senate on the debenture and flexible tariff amendments. Recalling that the President had asked for a. limited tariff revision, Senator M' Hollar, in a statement issued through tho Democratic National Committee, asserted that both Houses had disregarded this recommendation and during the sixteen months the Bill, was pending "the President has stood by_ in, silence, without tho vision, leadership, or courage to direct tho 'Republicans in. Congress to do what he had advised them to do. , " ," "The President has not hesitated," he added, "to emphasise by reiteration his disapproval of the Senate's flexible amendment and debenture plan; against ■ tho highest industrial rates that ever j challenged opposition or threatened the family budget of tho American people he has'never uttered an audible word of protost or disapproval." A week later, after the Bill had gone back to the President, he "and Republican tariff leaders in Congress, reached' accord (on the flexible tariff provision of the Hawley-Smoot measure and it was submitted to the Senate again without change. The President found certain sections of tho new flexible provision unsatisfactory after being informed of its contents by telephone at his Rapidan River fishing camp \n Virginia, and dispatched four Senatorial guests back to Washington with a suggested modification. RETURNED EARLY. The conferences continued late next day, after Hoover returned unusually early from his week-end retreat, and if was apparent that the executive had not been given all the details of tho .clause. ' ■ .. After conferring with Attorney-Gene-ral Mitchell' , and Solicitor-General Thatcher at tho White House, and with Senator Sinoot, Republican, Utah, by telephone, the President was ropresented as favouring tho compromise flexible amendment. The President then sent word to congressional chieftains that he was dissatisfied with certain provisions of the new flexible plan under which ■ the Tariff Commission would be> given the power to recommend increases and decreases up to 50 per cent, in statutory rates and the President would be given 60 days to approve or disapprove the recommendation. .1 . ■ Meanwhile, a -Democratic attack on the conferenco flexible plan was openod up_ by tho Democrats, who already had laid plans to make points of order. against the conferenco rates on cherric's, cheese, rayon, and watches on .the ground that the conferrees exceeded their authority to determine ' these rates. ■ In a statement issued through his party's National Committee, Senator Robinson, of Arkansas, the Democratic leader, contended the new flexible provision "constitutes a delegation of legislative authority which renders tho same invalid. "The power to levy duties, imposts, and excises is vestod exclusively in tho Congress," ho asserted., "INIQUITOUS." Senator Robinson said it was "only on the theory that tho Congress may create the President or any ono elso as its administrative power that the original flexible provision was sustained by the Supremo Court. 1 ";To give the President the' express power to approve or disapprove, the Commission's recommendations, presumably made in conformity to the rule fixed by law," he added, "is a delegation of authority by Congress to the President to legislate, and constitutes a violation of the Constitution." The Democratic leader served notice that opposition to the new flexible plan and to elimination of tho " debenture amendment would be "renewed with vigour and determination. "The fight against the conference report," ho asserted, "will bo designed to concentrate and combine not only tho opposition to those who regard the confevenco flexible provision and the abandonment of the debenture clause as decisively obje.ctionablo, but also those who recognise the general rovision rates carried in the Bill as oppressivo, unjust, and unnecessary. "Taken as a whole and regarded from the standpoint of the general public, this Bill is iniquitous and cannot contribute to tho restoration of sound economic conditions."

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