Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-26
Senator Borah Says Hoover
Must Assume RESPONSE
biIity' for Whole Bill.
DUTY TO SAY WHETHER
HE APPROVES MEASURE
Declares Flexible Plan Has Work.
ed Principally in Up
ward Revision.
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
Senator Borah, Republican, Idaho.
said in the Senate today that President
Hoover. having thrown his influence be-
hind the flexible principle in the pend
ing tariff discussions, must go through
TO the end and assume the RESPONSE
bility" for other parts of the measure.
Borah asserted he would not criticise
the President for issuing his statement
urging retention of the flexible tariff
policy adopted seven years ago, but now
that Mr.. Hoover had entered the con-
troversy it was his duty to say whether
he approved other parts of the bill.
Duty to Advise Country.
1T is the duty Of the President" he
added. ito advise this body and the
country in the same plain and specific
way whether the industrial schedules in
this bill meet with his approval
An opponent of the flexible principle,
Borah, who campaigned for Hoover In
the last election campaign, said that If
the Chief Executive had established a
precedent by issuing his statement on
the tariff, the action would be con-
demned by him
1T is not my idea of the division of
the duties of the various branches Of
Government under the Constitution"
the Senator said
But, he added, the practice had been
going on for about so years and there
fore he could not with justification crit
ic:se Mr.. Hoover.
Provision Worked Upward.
Instead of being flexible and resulting
in reduction of duties. Borah said the
provision had been inflexible and had
worked principally in the direction Of
upward revision.
Il take the position that not a single
reduction of any moment Whatever has
been made or recommended to the
Tariff Commission under this provi-
sion." the Idahoan continued.
While the duty on Bob White quail
was being reduced. the straw hat tariff
vas raised. he said. When the duty or
paint brush handles was cut the pig
iron duty was raised. adding to The
already exorbitant profits of the indus
try" --s~s7 s---. -.
1t reduced cresylic acid and increased
plate glass rates. he added; increased
wheat and reduced milifeed duties and
reduced phenol. chemical.
This was the extent of the reductions
under the flexible tariff. he said, adding
that under the flexible principle. we
are asked TO turn over to a commission
practical ratemaking power. and inside
of whose chamber the public seldom is
permitted to look
The best evidence that the flexible
tariff had not accomplished what it was
intended. he said, was the fact that the
last campaign was fought on the need
of adjusting inequalities of the tariff
between agriculture and industry.
Fight Over Industrial Rates.
Borah asserted the question which
will be fought out here until the snow
falls" is whether the industrial rates
are justified.
Does the President approve of
them?" he asked.
Does he approve of the duties on
cement pig iron and those products
which will increase the profits of the
steel companies?
''Is he satisfied with the agricultural
duties, and finally, is he satisfied that
this bill meets the promises of the last
campaign"
Discussing the farm rates, Borah said
the agricultural interests of the country
want to know whether they comply
with the campaign pledges"
He called upon the President to tell
the Senate to LAY off" the industrial
rates until the Tariff Commission has
had time to recommend adjustments
"A tariff expert told me last night"
he said that it would take 25 years tc
iron out the industrial rates"
He added, however. that the time &c
adjust agricultural rates is now, and
that was the promise"
Against Flexible Clause.
Borah voted against the flexible
principle at the time it was incorpo-
rated in the 1922 Fordney- Nice Cumber
tariff act and now is one of the leaders
Of Republican independent group
which, together with the majority of
the Democrats, is opposed to its reten-
ton in the present bill in any form.
While not opposing the protective
tariff system, Borah told the Senate
that he felt the principle had been so
applied to industry as to amount to
an embargo.
He asserted that protection was more
necessary to the West than the East
because the West is developing coun-
try just as the East was many years
ago.
''I am unwilling to leave the West
and the agricultural industry to the
Tariff Commission" he hundred, add
ing that the Tariff Commission largely
has been made up of lobbyists.
Turning to the personnel of the COM
mission. he said the chairman tThomas
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