Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-27
HOOvER'S TARIFF
STAND DEFENDED
Within Rights in Announcing
View on Flexible Prin-,
cipIes, Fess Says.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
President Hoover's announcement
favorins retention Of the flexible tarih
principles was defended In the Senate
today by Senator Fess of Ohio, the
Republican whip, Who said, however.
ne doubted the wisdom OF presidential
. EXPRESSION ON pending legislation.
Tess said that Mr.. Hoover, neVerthe-
less. was wholly within his rights and
those criticizing him might as well
make up their minds that the country
will support the Executive whenever ne
assumes any authority Of leadership.
The Ohioan argued that this was
whether it was a wise or unwise prac-
tice. or whether it was "humiliatine 70
some Senators.
n he had been consulted the Senator
said his decision probably would nave
been against the Presidents action.
Scores Borah Speech.
The flexible clause. he added, was a
"nolicy-determining item and not mere
Ir administrative" and If the President
was concerned about a change in pol
lev Of Importance. he. Tess, did not De-
lieve there was baSis for criticism
Fess characterized Yesterdays speech
of senator Borah. Republican. Idaho.
az an appeal to sectionalism" ana an
unfortunate utterance.
senator Connally. Democrat. Texas,
aaid the power delegated to the PreS,
ident in 1922 should be "recaptured
and redeposited with the legislative
branch of the Government. where IL
belongs" He added the bills proposal
for the flexible provision sets me
president up in the theory as merely
an adding machine.
Vote Expected to BE Close.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas. the
Democratic leader. said that those ure-
irr retention OF the flexible provisions
IN the pending tariff bill as prompt
remedy" for correcting mistakes in rates
between sessions OF Congress were
sneaking without founda ton IN eitner
fact or consistency for supporting their
conclusions.
Robinson opened the fourth day OF
debate on the clause which authorizes
the President to change duties up or
down within a range of so per cent
after investigation by the Tariff Com
mission.
Although President Hoover has thrown
his influence behind retention OF the
provision. a vote on the question Is eX-
pected to be close. Republican leaders
look for this vote early next week.
The Republican regulars, defending
the policy with the backing of President
Hoover. were faced with the powerful
opDosition Of most of the Democrats In
rornbinat ton with many. If not all, of the
farm State Republican independents
The latter group. on the other hano,
vas confronted with the knowledge that
ut least one Democrat, Fletcher OF
Florida. would support the President S
position that the flexible principle
should be retained in the tariff revision
bill and not repealed, as the ma jority OF
his party colleagues hope.
Borah Makes Attack.
The strength of the Republican in
dependent support which will go to the
Democratic proposal for repeal was en-
phasized shortly before Fletcher made
n announcement by the lengthy attack
on the flexible principle by Senator
Borah of Idaho. one of President Hoo
ver's leading campaignerS last year.
The Floridian said it disguised him
not to be able to go along with the
very large majority of my Democratic
colleagues" on the tissue. but he found
tbenPresident's statement on the fiexi-
BILE principle convincing" and he IA
vored the proposal of the Republican
members Of the finance committee TO
continue il in effect substantially as 1t
is under the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS law.
After all these months of study and
labor" he observed, you now have be-
fore you a bill which is seriously de-
nounced as an ubiquitous bill mon
stroGity.' an 'abomination.'
This Is the work of Congress. Could
the President do worse II ne tried?"