Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-03
DEMOCRATS MOVE
. ON TARIFF SHREWD
Forcing Early Vote May Cause
G. O. p. to Face Other En-
! barrassing Issues
BONUS AND SUBSIDY LEAD
BY CLINTON w. GILBERT


etaT Correspondent Evening Public Ledger
copyright, 1852. bv Pubho ledge, CON pc '
Washington. Aug. 3.-In proposing
an early vote on the tariff, the Demo
Gratis played the cleverest politics that
they have in the entire session. In
the first place, the Republicans were
getting ready to suggest date some.
what later The Democrats robbed
them of the credit of ending the long
delay and clear themselves OF response
bility for holding up legislation.
And in the next place. they take
away from the majority a good excuse
Tor not acting upon troublesome uupS.
tfons that are pending ana open the
way for pressure upon them 10 ari
on bills which will cmbarrass them in
the campaign.
The delay over the tariff has really
given the Republicans certain tactical
advantages. For instance. President
Harding wanted a ship subsidy BUI
before the session was over. The con
gressional leaders reported that such
a measure would be- unpopular in the
Middle West and might cost them votes
in the coming election. They took the
ground with the President that with thr
tariff to be disposed OF there would
not be time TO consider the subsidy.
Give Time for Bonus
By hurryiug action on the tariff, III.
Democrats probably have nor made room
for action on the subsidy Bur tLey
have given ample time for the paSSoyr
Of the Bonus Bill and the sending of IL
to President Harding before the session
closes.
1t is UNDERSTOOD Of course. thar
President Harding will veto the Bonus
Bill None the less ii will ha pmbar.
RAISING TO the party responsible for IT,
Getting the tariff out of the way as
sures a long debate on the bonus. and
the opportunity for its friends and its
enemies among the public to become
thoroughly aroused.
1t is impossible 70 act on this bill
without losing votes. Members who
are up for recollection fear that if thny
vote against the bill they will lose the
support of the soldiers. and if they
vote for it they will anger the tax
payers. If the bill is passed its veto
by President Harding will anger the
soldier vote against the party in power
And a disagreement between the Exec
utive and his party on this issue will
not be an edifying spectacle.
HOpeN lor way out
No one knows how the Republicans
intend to meet this situation. but a de-
Law of the tariff until near the end Of
the session offered them several possible
ways out.
IL the Tariff Bill were not passed till
the middle of September. rs many had
expected. acting on the conference re-
port. failure TO maintain a quorum and
q filibuster by opponents OF the bonus
would perhaps have prevented action
on the bonus in what remained Of the
session
All the friends Of the bonus would
have had a chance to get themselves on
record for IT. Dramatic gestures might
have been made and still the responsi-
bility Of passing bill which the tax
payers oppose and the spectacle Of party
division between Executive and Con-
gress might have been avoided.
Responsibility Shifted
Or il the bill were passed by the
Senate it might be tied up in con.
ference heteen the two Houses when
the session came 10 an end
The Democrats. by Offering an early
vote on the tariff. have probably PUT
upon the majority responsibility for
really acting on the bonus. OF course.
this issue is embarrassing to themselves
because their membership is split on
the bonus. bur an opposition CQn always
wrggle out of responsibility moro easily
than can the party in power.
Also the Democrats have probably
shut off debate upon the elastic feature
of the tariff. II is upon publicity for
this feature that the majority chiefly
depends 70 make the higher duties ac-
ceptable TO the country.