Evening star., 1926-04-06
GAG RULE CHARGED
AT TARIFF HEARING
Dennis Tells Senators Marvin
Gives TWo-ThirdS of Debate
Time to Classic.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The gag rule is being used by Chair
man Marvin in conducting debates on
the Tariff Commission, Commissioner
Dennis, a Democrat, charged today be-
fore the Senate tariff investigation
committee.
Under the present procedure, he
said, two-fifths of the time allotted to
debate is consumed by Commissioner
Classic, one-fifth by Chairman Marvin
and one-fifth by Commissioner Costi-
gan, leaving only one-fifth for the
other three members.
Il protested to the commission over
this slip-shod method Of conducting de-
bates" he said. Mr.. Dennis said he
bad been criticized by Chairman Mar
vim for writing President Coolidge at
SwampsCott about the straw hat case
while at the same time Chairman Mar
vim wrote the President about tariff
cases without the commission being
advised.
Attacks Subtle" Classic.
Referring to Commissioner Classic,
Mr.. Dennis declared that he was the
most subtle, adroit and learned law
yer in the United States," but lacked
horse sense"
II feel like a village idiot In the
presence of Michiavellf when he starts
one of his legal arguments" the wit
ness said, "but he and his yoke fellow,
Chairman Marvin. have turned the
commission into a debating society
and an army never has succeeded led
by debating society,"
Commissioner Dennis declared when
he went on the commission he at.
tempted to be harmoniZer, but that
he had developed into a sort of
Ismaelite.
Reiterating his charge that the fiex-
ible provision Of the tariff law was
being "maladministered," he asserted
the "lopsideds Unbalanced administra-
tion by the present commission is
killing the flexible provision
Assails Presidents Control.
Senator Bruce, Democrat, Mary
land, a member of the investigating
committee, suggested that the Tariff
Commission be made a rate-making
body with the President entirely re-
moved from tariff fixing.
THE President is the poorest per-
son in the United States to lower and
raise tariff rates." Senator Bruce add
ed. Whether he is a Democrat or Re-
publican he is bound by his party
platform"
After Commissioner Dennis had
praised the work Of Commissioner
Brossard, Senator La Toilette, Repub-
lican, Wisconsin, drew from the wit
ness that he had advised President
Coolidge not to appoint Brossard.
Smoot's Name Mentioned.
"Was Senator Shoots name men
toned in this connecticut" asked Sen
ator La Toilette.
Eyes. / told the President that Bros
sard had been represented publicly as
a protege of Senator Smoot," replied
Commissioner Dennis. LAS 1 recall,
the Presidents reply was, 80 much
the better; don't object to that
Didn't you also tell the President
that Brossard was connected with the
beet sugar Industry" asked Chairman
Robinson. Democrat, Arkansas.
Eyes, but 1 do not believe Commits
sioner Brossard represents any in
dustry," replied the Commissioner.
Doubts Own Fitness.
What did the President say to
that?" asked Senator Robinson. II
am treading on delicate ground" re-
sponded the witness, and the colloquy
ended.
Commissioner Dennis declared that
he did not believe that he himself was
fitted to serve on the Tariff Commits
sion.
II am impatient with circumlocu-
ton and the waste of time" he added.
81 may be more interested in general
trade than I am to protect some little
industry in this country"