Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-22
Politics at Large
By G.. Could Lincoln.

By G.. Could Lincoln.
Preliminary sparring over the farm
relief bin be.ws.n the conferees OF the
Gcnate and of the House has so tar
Brought no results. The Senate MEM
baIs OF the conference committee are
insisting that the House take direct
vote on the debenture plan, written
into the bill by tn. Senate, before any
thing furtll~r Is done. The House con-
frrees. on the other hand. demand that
the Senate leceds from its support OF
the debenture plan without more ado.
How long this impasse will continue Is
uncertain. Much may depend upon the
pad with which the tariff bill is
Brought to a final vote in the House
and also whether during the considera-
ton OF the tariff bill in that chamber
a vote is had on q proposal to inert
the debenture plan in that measure.
When the farm relief bill containing
TIE debenture CLAUSE came back from
the Senate to the House, the latter
lodged the cons i.utional is.ue involved
although 1t, in its resolution sending
the bill to confei Cnce, declared that
such a constitutional question existed.
The constitutional question arises be-
cause of the charge made in some
quarters that the debenture is revenue
legislation and under the provisions OF
the Constitution must originate in the
House and not in the Senate. II It Is
clear that the House conferees 20 back
for vote in the House on the deber-
tura plan. either the House will have
to waive this question Of constitutional
ity Of the Senate's action in placing the
dcbenture in the farm bill, or will have
to raise the issue with the Senate. Tn
announced purpose Of avoiding that
issue when the bill came back from
the Senate originally was to expedite
flnal action on the farm bill. 1t was
feared that Il the constitutional CUES
ion was raised 1t might lead to long
debate in both Houses and that If the
House actually returned the bill to the
Senate. declining to consider the dehen-
ture amendment. 1t might be weeks and
months before the farm bill is sub
nittsd to President Hoover for his ap-
prevail.
It remains TO be seen which Of the
two Houses will be forced to change Its
attitude. The Senate supporters of the
debenture continue to clamor for
direct vote in the House On tho Senate
amendment providing for debenture.
The House leaders apparently are as
firmly set against that procedure.
Before the week is cut the Republican
membership Of the House will have
demonstrated its ability or fail TO DEM
onstrate its ability to get together on
the tariff bill. For DAYS now, the lead
ers. members of the ways and means
comnittee ana Republican members
VINO have been disappointed over some
of the duties placed In the bill as re-
ported, have struggled to adjust the
differences. A party caucus is expected
almost daily to tax" final action on the
bill. 1t is understood that the ways
and means committee will sgree to a
number OF amendments in an effort to
placate both the aroused Republicans
from farm states: who insist that the
farmer is not the real beneficiary of
this tariff bill. and members from some
of the industrial States. who are cling
ing fast to their demands for increa sed
duties on some of the manufactured
products Of their States. II the Rspub-
leans fail to agree on the tariff bill, it
will be something new.
Representative FRANKLIN ". Fort of
New Jersey. secretary to the Repub-
lican national committee end recog-
niZed as one of the ablest OF the young
er leaders OF the party. has come for
ward with an ingenious suggestion de-
signed TO make II possible to grant
protection to some Of the articles now
on the free list without resorting to
another tariff bill. His proposal is to
set up separate class for articles
which have been on the free list. but
which may need protection before the
Republicans get around to writing an
other tariff law. He points out that
e4ent or ten years usually elapse b.
tween the enactment of tariff laws
With world conditions of trade an,
production ccnatansiy changing. Ameri-
cGn-produced articles when tocay re-
quire no protection from foreign COM
petition may in Year or two years
need such protection vitality. Among
the articles which he would include in
this new classification are hides. shoes,
leather, phosphate rock. vegetable oils
etc. Under Mr.. Forts plan a nominal
duty OF one per cent would be placed
on such articles and a maximum duty
OF perhaps twenty per cent would also
be fixed by Congress. The president OF
the tariff board would be given au-
thority to deal with the duties on these
articles If a change became necessary.
In reality. Mr. Fort's proposal is an ex-
tension of the already existing flexible
provisions of the tariff law under which
the President. after investigation by the
tariff board, is given the right to in
crease or reduce the tariff duties by
nifty per cent Of the rate fixed in the
law. suggestion was made while the
ways and means committee was con-
SiderinS the tariff bill that the Fresi-
cent be given authority to take articles
from tn: free list and fix On them
duties within certain limits. after inves-
hgatlon by the tariff board. Opposition
arose TO this, however, on the ground
That Congress will be practically wash
Ing its haroS OF Its constitutional duty
to levy tariff duties. Mr.. For,s plan
places the initiative on Congress itself
and leaves to the President only the
administration Of the will of Congress
Wlthin bounds specified By law.
#*
Although 1929 is without a national
political campaign or u Congressional
campaign, 1t promises not to be de-
void OF political interest. Thsre is an
election coming on In Americas great
esJ city. New York, which NAV nave
very far-reaching effect Mayor Jim
my walker Is seeking to succeed him
sell. Republicans and supporters OF
former Mayor Hylan. not t. mention
the number Of snti-Iammany Demo-
Gratis. have been seeking to form a flu
sion ticket. When Tammany has been
oeIeateu IN New York, which is not
OFTEN, 1t has been through the fusion
method. Republicans In the greater
city simply have been outnumb ted b.
their Democratic opponents Ever since
ne resignation of George w. Olvany as
ISmmany leader there have been erI,p-
ticns in the Tammany yani2atiUn.
curry, the new leader, was e. acted only
alter rather bitter int rnsl struggle.
Gritty has been at odds with Alfred Il.
smith in the past. His selection as
lammany head was interpreted as A
a ha