Evening star., 1922-05-16
TAGGING DEBATE
AIDS TARIFF BILL
Talk May Wear Out in Time
for Action in Six Weeks,
Says Lawrence.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Congress looks today as il it would
wear itself out with talk. This
means action on the pending tariff
bill within five or six weeks, and
not late in the summer as has been
supposed. The bill would be in con-
ference a month anyhow, but the
present outlook is for a clearing of
June.
Two things have contributed to the
acceieration. Desnoc1atsnand repub-
licans. are getting sick of the tariff
debate. Even the republicans. who.
up to ten days ago. were hoping,
something would happen to the tarfff
bill 80 that 1t might be buried for the
remainder OF the session, are Begin
ming to think q great deal more good
might be accomplished BY getting the
Then its defects will, in their opinion,
lead to remedial legislation much
sooner and the damage done will be
minimfzed.
: AS for the democrats, they. too, are
saying that from a political viewpoint
the passage Of the tariff act before
the congressional elections will be adj
vantageous and will add to the sum
total of grievances inside the republi-
can party.
May Upset Calculations.
There is chance that all calcula-
tions, however, on the tariff, may be
upset. Lately a movement has been
launched to take the tariff out Of
politics once and for all by lodging
tho po,uar <o 6v rotas In q oyoofSsion
created by Congress. This idea is
not new, but not until the peculiar
economic conditions following the war
lieve Congress Of the perplexing task
of fixing rates. Mr.. Harding has,
asked that the executive be empow-
cred to change rates az conditions
huctuate. All tariff commissions
heretofore have been merely advis.-
to recommend and Congress has done
its own legislating. The plan now is
to empower a tariff commission to Ak
rates and to vest it with quasi
judicial character exactly like the In
terstate Commerce Commission. The
public would appeal to the tarin COM
mission and present case Tor the
raising or lowering of tariff rates ex-
actly as the shippers and railroads
handle the question of transportation
rates. In this way Congress would
be relieved of a constant pressure and
the chances of an equitable decision
from national instead of political
or sectional viewpoint would be vastly
improved.
The democrats are fighting strenu-
ously against giving the President
the right to fix rates. They claim it
is unconstitutional for Congress to
delegate it's power. and Senator un.
leader, has contributed some compre-
hensiye arguments along this line.
But in answer to this republicans
point out that Congress also has the
right to fix rates in interstate COM
merce and has delegated this right to
democrats are opposed to vesting the
right to fix rates in any political. Of
fetal, such as the President. who has
q responsibility to a party. They
might be persuaded to compromise II
a non-partisan or rather bipartisan
commission, such as the Interstate
Commerce Commission, were to be
created.
The night sessions in the Senate
on the tariff have become wearisome
and members themselves are not ap-
plying themselves with as much xest
as they did q week or ten days ago.
Another month Of night sessions and
While the bill is in conference some
other legislation will be tackled. The
bonus will be given right OF way.
It seems certain now that unless the
Senate agrees to Mr.. Smoots paid
up insurance plan. which Mr. Hard
ing more or less fayors, the veto
power will be used, whereupon Con-
gress will put the law on the statute
books by two-thirds vote.
President Harding probably VIII be
satisfied with the passage OF the ship
subsidy bill by the House alone nnd
will not insist on action by the Senate.
This will leave Congress free to iad-
journ about the middlex Of August.
There Ii, on the other hand, much pres
sure for the passage of q new law to
regulate campaign expenditures Of
United States seuators. The Supreme
Court declared : Unconstitutional the
present corrupt practices act with ref
erence to primary elections. It IL
doubtful whether pfimarfez can ever
be regulated except BY the several
states. A new law In needed. however,
for the regulation OF the elections
themselves. This probably will BE-
forthcoming before the end Of the pres-
ent session. The prospect IL for an adj
je .lrnment Of Congress- sufficiently
.arly to enable che members to take
ar active mart In the fall caYppafgD.