Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-05
BORAH QUESTIONS
TARIFF LEGALITY
Constitutionality of Flexible
Provision Raised by Idaho
Senator.

new source today when Senator Borah,
Republican, Idaho, questioned the
conStitutionality OF the flexible pro
vision of the law.
Discussing the resolution of Chair
man Smoot of the finance committee
for investigation of the Tariff Com
mission, Senator Borah suggested that
the inquiry embrace the question of
constitutionality.
The flexible provision permits the
President to raise or lower tariff rates
by 90 per cent upon recommendation
of the Tariff Commission. Represent
alive Hun. Democrat. of Tennessee
has proposed its repeal
Senator Norris. Republican. Nebras
ka, promised the Senate some facts
which will shock the conscience of
the American people" in regard to-
tariff administration.
Brought Under Fire.
The limelight was turned on the
commission in the Senate yesterday.
Two resolutions We're introduced.
one from a source inimical to the
Republican protective tariff and the
other from a source friendly 10 the
principle Of protection. The first was
by Senator King of Utah. "A Demo-
cratic member of the Senate commit
tee on finance. and the second by
Senator Smoot. also Of Utah, Repub-
lican. chairman of the finance COM
mittee
Senator Shoots resolution obviously
was designed to head off. if possible.
more unfriendly thrusts at the Tariff
Commission, such as the King resolu
ton But Senator King caught the
VICE Presidents eye first and obtained
recognition. Smoot followed with his
resolution. for which he sought imme-
date consideration. Immediately Sena-
tor Norris of Nebraska, progressive
Republican and a critic Of the Tariff
Commission. and Senator Pat Harri-
son or Mississippi We're on their feet
demanding that the King resolution
also be considered if that privilege was
to be accorded the Smoot resolution.
Senator King finally formally OBJ
Jected, and the Smoot resolution went
over along with his
Concerned Over Trend
Republican leaders in the Senate
today are plainly exercised over the
trend of the tariff and agricultural
problem discussions. One prominent
Senator. strong advocate of the pro
tective tariff, declared that he had no
objection to an investigation OF the
Tariff Commission and the tariff itself.
for he believed it would show clearly
that the present tariff is really too
low. particularly with regard to the
textile industry But he frankly ad-
| mitted that he feared the effect of the
! present agitation upon the business
world generally. II business becomes
| convinced there is to be serious eff
! fort to revise the tariff. he said, 1t
may become unsettled. and the pres
| ent great prosperity of the country
| would be endangered.
The supporters of the Fordney Nc
Cumber tariff act, therefore. are eX-
pected to resist strenuously the King
resolution unless it is greatly modi-
/ fed
Asks for Investigation.
! The Smoot resolution provides for
! an investigation by the Senate finance
! committee of the administration by
the Tariff Commission of the flexible
provisions of the law. under which
! the President IS authorized To in
| crease or decrease by so per cent the
existing tariff duties after investiGa-
ton and recomme ndation by the Tariff
Commission. II is straightout reso-
| luton for an inquiry without any
Whereases condemnatory of the com
mission or the protective tariff.
The King resolution, on the other
! hand, in its preamble asserts that the
| Tariff Commission, in its administra-
ton of the flexible provisions OF the
law, has acted only for the increase
of tariff duties. to the hurt of Ameri-
can consumers; that it has been hand
picked so as to follow tust such a
! course; that the present tariff has
! been very detrimental to the farmers
| of the country. compelling them to
pay high prices for all that they pur-
chase: that the commission as at
present constituted is a friend and
helper of the trusts and monopolies
| instead Of the people generally.
Mentions Third Party.
Senator Kings resolution provides
for the appointment of a select com
mittee Of the Senate, five in number.
1t shall include at least one member
of each of the three political parties
represented in the Senate" Senator
Shipstead of Minnesota is the sole
representative of the F'armerL abor
party in the Senate, and it is EXPECT
ed that the adoption of the resolution
by the Senate would call tor his ap
pointment, unless it was construed
thai the ostracized Frazier Of North
Dakota and Brookhart of Iowa also
belonged to a third party
The select committee proposed by
Senator King would be authorized &c
|
recess Of the Senate. 1t would vir
tually become an adjunct of the Demo
cratic campaign committee if it were
set up and could continue it's inquiries
during the Spring and Summer. The
Democrats are intent upon making
the tariff a major issue in the cam
paign of 1926 for the election of q
new Congress.
Senator King and the other Demo
Gratis are counting upon progressive
Republican support for the resolution
But it is doubtful that even with the
aid of some Of the Progressives, the
} Democrats would be able to put
through the King resolution. Sena
tors like Capper of Kansas, who re
Gently have attacked the tariff on the
ground that it is unfair to the farmer
in it's operations. are still not ready
to go back entirely upon the Re
publican principle of protective tariff
The Smoot resolution may be adopted
if the leaders deem it wise to take
such a step to stem the present out
cry against the commission. Some
of the Republicans themselves are un
friendly to the flexible provisions OF
the tariff act and would be perfectly
willing to see them repealed, leaving
to Congress the entire control OF
tariff rates once more.