Putnam patriot., 1929-07-11
CONNECTICUT FIGHTS FOR TARIFF
Senator Bingham Splenddly Equipped For Congressional Fight Now Under Way.-McLean Greatly Missed In Present Discussion.-Manufacturers Go to Washing ton.-The Bngham-B Borah Scrap.
BULKELEY soUTHwoRTH GRIFFIN

The Senator, it is said, took a keen interest in the tariff and was one of the greatest fighters for increased pro- tection. Tobacco, it is said, occupied a great deal of the Senator atton- tion. and it is recalled that he was in- strumental in having the rates on un- stemmed tobacco increased from S1.s5 to $2.1Q pound and the rates on stemmed tobacco increased from S2.50 up to $2.75 a pound.
 When the Senator was asked what he thought about the special session idea, some weeks before he retired from the Senate. he said he didn't feel that he should express any ideas as lie wouldn't be here when the ses- sicn was called. He did go so far. how ever. as to admit that If he were not retiring he would again advocate the adoption of the American valuation plan rather than the use of domestic production costs in making tariff schedules.
 During his life in the Senate, Mir. Mclean had always urged the accept ance of American market valuations and the abandonment of domestic costs. The Senator also wanted t0 re- organize the tariff commission and in crease it's membership SO that the com mission could be sub-diYided into sew eral small committees which could go about over the country holding hear ings Go determine what tariffs should be increased
 Senator Walcott, successor to Sen ator Mclean. is displaying a keen in- I .f plans to follow his predecessor by spending much of the summer in Washington to follow closely the writ ing of the tariff bill.
 Bingham, Spisnd;diy informed
 The complete thoroughness with which Senator Bingham has plunged | into the tariff hearings being held be | fore the finance subcommittee of which he is chairman has excited prob ably more comment here than the methods employed by any other Sen atars of the finance committee in lead ing their various subcommittee dur ing the tariff hearings.
 l When Senator Bingham's sub-eom- mittee holds a hearing, the Senator is prepared with a thorough knowledge of the matters to be discussed and with an efficient staff to conduct his hear ] ing without any loss of time or beat ] ing about the bush.
 In front of the Senator on the long table behind which his committee sits are numerous large. bulky and official looking documents bound in leather. ] Just what they are remains mys- H tery. but the Senator frequently con suits them when witnesses are being questioned.
 And in back of the Senator. to his right, is his staff of tariff assistants sitting at a table piled high with tar l if information. Some controversial question may develop between a wit ness and members of the committee when. without wasting time arguing the Senator beckons and a member of his staff of assistants places an open ed book or document before him. H' quotes a marked passage and the con troversy is settled.
 Few of the witnesses maintain theii assumed bland assurance when th, Connecticut Senator has completed his questioning of them. With tho keen -mindedness of a practicing at tOrney. the Senator questions ana cross examines, in a method which re veals to many witnesses that they came before the committee unprepareC to answer many queries of vital i'm portanee.
 Newspapermen who have been sit ting in day after day on the various subcommittee hearings are frequently heard commenting among themselve. on the mental agility displayed by Sen ator Bingham in conducting his tariff probe.
 Leads Borah Defeat
 Senator Bingham was the most az gressive member of the Senate in thu controversy which led to the defeat of the Borah resolution calling for thu ! limitation of tariff revision to agri cultural products and related products
 Time after time. while Senator Bor ah of Idaho was talking on the Senat, | floor in favor of his resolution, Bing ham interrupted to question BOrah oi to argue with him over certain state ments and the interpretation of Presi dent H0over's message Co Congress.
 Bingham argued that the Republi can platform promised 10 protect American labor, that Republican cam paign speakers last fall had promised | the workingman in the factory tariff relief that would benefit him and that President Hoovers message did mol request the limitation of tariff revis. | ion to agricultural products.
 Borah was irrtated at Bingham persistent opposition and voiced opp0. stion to the Connecticut Senator's in. terruptions, and once again the ia. nous wooden nutmegs came in for comment when Senator Glass of Nir. ginia suggested that perhaps Boraf could quiet Bingham by promising ] him there would be no tariff levied on wooden nutmegs. Bingham. however stuck to his guns and fought Boraf until the vote killing the Borah reso ' lution was taken.