The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-12
FLEXIBLE TARIFF. PLAN APPROVED
 BY UPPER HOUSE
Underwood AssaiIs Measure as Evasion by Congress of Its Duties-Harding
 Urges Bill
Fly Associated Press

Washington, August 11.-A flex- ible tax plan proposing authority for the President to increase or de- crease tariff rates in the pending bill until July l, 1924, was approved tonight by the Senate.
 The vote was 36 to 20 with three republicans opposing and two demo- crats supporting.
 he roll call on the flexible tariff follows:
 For flexible tariff:
 Republicans: Brandegee. Bursum. Calder, Cameron, Capper, Colt, Curtis. Dillingham;, Edge. Frelinghuysen, Hale, Harreld. Jones of Washington, Reyes, Lenroot. Lodge, Mccormick, McCumber. McClean. Moses. Nichold- son, Norbeck. oddie, Pepper, Phipps, 'shortri1ge, Shoot. Spencer, Sterling. Sutherland Townsend, Wadsworth. Warren and Watson of Indiana-S4.
 Democrats; Broussard and Ken. dricks. 2.
 Total PC.
 Against a flexible tariff:
 Republicans: Gooding, McNary and Stanf1eld 3.
 Democrats: Ashurst, Dial. Fletcher. Gerry, Heflin. Hitchcock, Jones of New Mexico, Myers. Overman, Pomc- rene, Ransdell, Reed, Sheppard, Sim mons, smith, Trammell and Walsh, of Montana. 17.
 Total 20
 Just before approving the plan the Senate adopted S4 to 19 an amendment by Senator Bursum. New Mexico, which would provide that aiter July l, 1924. no duties could be changed except by authority of Con- gress. Eighteen republicans and Il aemoorats supported this amend
 Changes approved by the Senate aIter hours of wrangling and roll calls had removed objections of number of republican senators. fresident Harding also took a hahu, outlining his views to several senators who were summoned to tbe White House and later in . lsttar to Chairman McCumber of the IT, nance committee. which was read to the Senate. It follows:
 need not repeat to you what T have said personally ana what [ have conveyed officially in n mes sage to Congress how deeply I am interested in the provision for fIexi- bility in the tariff bill, which Is now under consideration in the Sen ate.
 Give Tariff Board Authority
 Tt has seemed to mo that the varying conditions in the world and the unusual conditions following the World war make 1t extremely es- sential that we have this means of adapting our tariff to meet the new conditions. Moreover, I believe 1t Is highly constructive and pro- sressive step in retaining the good and eliminating the abuses which grow up under our tariff system. think we ought to make the tariff commission all that 1t Is designed to be--the agency for scientific in- vestigation and the source of de- pendable information on all tariff problems. ~
 Tn view of the fact that Congress in providing for flexibility must be- stow some exceptional powers upon the President should very much prefer that in the same act the Congress definitely name the tariff board as the source of information and recommendation upon which the President may proclaim changes in rates of duty. If the power to modi- fy rates were given to the Presi- dent I should immediately proclaim the tariff board as the agency of investigation and recommendation. because the President could not deal with the situation in any other practical manner. I think 1t more seemingly. therefore, to have the Congress definitely designate the tariff board as the agency to be employed by the President in the exercise of executive power which it is proposed to bestow."
 Underwood Assaiis Plan
 In the debate the flexible plan was assailed by democratic leaders as surrender of the functions of Congress and a dangerous preced- ent and was defended by Chairman McCumber and Senator Townsend, republican, Michigan. and other ina jority senators, as necessary to take care of American industry during the shifting conditions in the world.
 Senator Underwood, democratic leader declared the proposal was a direct retreat" of Congress from the authority which it held to levy taxes and retreat from the responsibili- ty that rested on Congress and which 1t had no right to delegate.
 Those who support this proposi- ton abdicate their functions he said. They say to the countr:, we arc incompetent. and although for hundred years our predecessors have been able to legislate along these lines. we have reached the point where we admit our incom- potency However, it may be that Congress. facing this mis-shapen bill now before the Senate. may have some Justification for reaching that conclusion"
 Senator Reed. democrat. Missouri declared that by enacting such measure. Congress was transferring the taxing power to the President.
 The Jones amendment proposing q scientific tariff" was rejected 27 to 26.
 FIVE ARE nR0WNEn