The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-05-08
REPUBLICAN House
MEMBERS CONSIDER
TARIFF PROCEDURE
Meeting Called for Friday by
Representative Tilson, Ma.
jority Leader

Washington, May 8.-tHb-A caucus
Of Republican house members today
was called for Friday to determine
procedure for consideration in the
house of tho new tariff bill propOS-
ing upward revision of import duties
on sugar. a wide range of agriculture
al products and OH a host Of other
commodities.
The call was issued by Representa-
tive Tilson OF Connecticut. the ma
jority leader. and about tho same
time Representative Garner Of Texas.
the Democratic leader. announced
that members OF the minority party
would meet late today to discuss their
position OIL the measure.
Garner and other Democrats have
declared opposition to suggestions
from Republican sources that the bill
might be called up under procedure
limiting the offering Of amendments.
The Texan holds all members should
be given opportunity to propose
changes.
Some members of the minority. as
Representative Garner OF Texas, we're
studying the $4,000 word document pre-
paratory to general and specific on
slaughtS.
Some members of the majority
party also voiced dissatisfaction with
various proposals III the measure, in
Guiding the duties on building ma
tcria!, cedar lumber, shingles, brick
and cement and birch and maple
lumber. all of which now arc on the
free list.
Assails Sugar Duties
Representative Frear Of Wisconsin,
a Republican Independent. assailed
the increased duties on sugar as in
defensible.
Praise of the measure was voiced
by Representative 1ilsoa of Conncc-
ticut, the majority floor leader;
Chairman Smell of the rules commit
tee. which will report a rule to govern
consideration Of the measure in the
house. and Chairman Hawley and
other Republicans who took part in
framing the measure.
AS study and discussion went for
ward at the capitol. there was con
lecture as to how President Hoover
would view the bill in the light OF
his expressed desire for n Limited
revision Of customs duties with the
lesser rates left for the tariff com
mission to consider.
Tobacco. Alone. Untouched
Only ono schedule, that dealing
with tobacco, was untouched, while
an entirely new schedule IA created
| cu,i,,., ci,,u ,,,a,,,foct,rnr IF or%ifirio1
silk. officially termed 'rayon' III the
bill.
One surprising development was the
action of the committee in reporting
out an entirely new bill as a substi-
tute for the existing Fordney-Mc-
Cumbcr act. Unless the senate fl
nance committee completely reWrites
the house measure, as it usually does
every commodity embraced in both
the dutiablc and free lists would be
open to debate End amendment or
the senate floor.
TO avoid such a contingency. Pres
ident Hoover suggested, informally at
least, that no general tariff revision
law be placed before congress. but
that a bill in tic nature Of an amend
ment to the existing act be reported.
New Statute Necessary
Chairman Hawley and his Repub-
lican colleagues of the ways and
means committee contend that a
whole new statute is necessary to
simplify administration at the Gus
toms house. They do not subscribe
to the theory that the Democrats OF
tho senate will be able to keep tho
special session going far into the sum-
mel with debate on the bill.
To speed up the work Of the tariff
commission III determining justifica-
ton for rate changes, the bill pro-
poses that it may adopt the Amer
lean selling price of comparable COM
moditics as a basis. rather than the
differences in costs Of production at
homo and abroad which experience
has demonstrated practically are un-
obtainablc.
Moreover. the president would be
authorized to investigate systems for
valuation in the United States on
which to base duties on imports.