New-York tribune., 1922-08-12
Measure Gives President
Power TO Change Rates
When Commission Finds
Shift in Production Cost
Harding's. Appeal
Hastens Action
Democrats Say Scheme Is
Revolutionary +; House
Likely to Fall in Line
49, r,s,.,r.., washinotom Bureau

E<nr
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE Sen
Il. tonight adopted the flexible
[s.lsuse" in the peuiing tariff oiii' giving
I. President authority to raise or
flower tariff rates until July /, 1924.
II they become law, these provisions
will mark revolutionary change IN
American tarif-msking.
The provisions had been advocated
by President Harding and were again
pushed by him to-day in conference
yish Senators Odde and Frelinghuysen
before The vote was taken. They pro-
vide that after the tariff commission
has made scientific investigation into
differences of production costs here
and abroad of any given Item. the
President shall have power not only to
raise or lower the duty, but also to
change the classification in o1der to
saualize the costs of productions.
The amendments constituted COM
rromise agreed on this morning at
conference between Finance Committee
Republicans and Senator Lenroot. who
objected to the original flexible tariff
provisions reported from the commit
tee. The revised McCumberLenroot
plan was adopted by the Senate this
afternoon after long debate and in
the face Of much Democratic opposl-
ton.
Frelinghuysen Plan Fails
Consideration of the so-called scen-
ti6c tariff amendments proposed by
Senator's Frelinghuysen, Republican,
Of New Jersey, and Jones, Democrat. of
New Mexico, resulted in their rejec-
ton by votes of "a to 18 and 81 to 26,
respectively. Three Democrats - Ash
urst, Hitchcock and Kendrick sup
ported the Frelinghuysen amendment.
The committee amendment proposing
machinery for a scientific tariff, which
Is similar to the Frelinghuysen plan
except that no provision is made for
the Tariff Commission to recommend
rstes to Congress, was then approved
by q vote of 81 to 13.
Amendments increasing the salaries
Of members of the Tariff Commission
from $1,000 to $4,000 and providing
Sl,090000 for the commissions in
yestigations were rejected by large
majorities.
President Harding in a message came
out for the flexible tariff, and he has
repeatedly recommended it to Senators
u conversation. To-day, in letter to
Senator McCumber, which the Senator
nsd read in the Senate, he stressed the
Importance of it again, and particu-
hrly urged that Congress definitely
name the tariff board or commission as
me source of information and recon-
rnendations upon which the President
may proclaim changes in rates of duty.
President Urges Plan
The Presidents letter to Senator Nc
Cumber said:
i need not repeat to you what I
nave said previously and what I have
conveyed officially in message to
congress, how deeply | am interested
~ me provision for fexibility in the
,a,in bill, which is now under con-
slderaaon in the Senate. 1t has seemed
W W me that the varying conditions in
she @ world and the unusual conditions
loliowlng the World War make it ex-
Hemeiy essential that we have this
means OF adapting our tariff to meet
'he new conditions.
|. moreover, believe it is a highly
constructive and progressive step in
s.aihlng the good and eliminating the
su uases winch grow up under our tariff
sssssm. ! think We ought to make the
~ IN commission all that it is designed
3S,, ;e,'he s;s agency for scientific investi-
4 infnrna.si ana the source of dependable
aGr a''oh on all tariff problems.
:, an view OF the fact that Congress
stow .,'uihg Tor fexibility must be-
the D. Ie exceptional powers upon
ssr thseident' thas should very much pre-
dasn;tai i IN tne same act the Congress
snnrna se'y name the tariff board as the
son u information and recommends
arns,. upon which the President may
SIsa.n sls a. changes in rates of duty.
.he power to modify rates were
,Contnucd on Zane nina,