Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-25
Washington Ticker
BY CLINTON COFFIN,
Press Financial Writer


Associated Press Financial Writer.
From the moment the fxst roll calls
in the Senate on specific tariff sched-
ules began, the outlook for the coun-
try's tariff policy. as 1t looks to observers
on the outskirts of the contest, radically
changed. Some of the more expert
enced Of the watchers have looked for
the transformation, even during periods
when coalitions in the Senate opposed
to the stalwart Republican position
have been mastering majorities on a
number of somewhat abstract prin-
ciples and have thrown the future of
tariff legislation into a good deal of
doubt.
1t seems to be fact that very con-
siderable number of Senators who can
be gotten to oppose higher tariff pro-
posals in general and administrative
features of tariff applications, when 1t
comes to individual schedules, vote in
every revision for higher rates on prod
ucts originating in localities they rep
resent. The frst test of that DISPOSE
ton was reached this week on the cal
cium carbide rate, and the experience
Of former years again proved good
guide. Enough votes were mustered
from the ranks of those who oppose
higher tariff generally to keep an in
crease in the bill, and the calculations
now are that the tendency will be
strong enough to carry the measure
through the Senate In pretty much the
committee form.
This expectation has been entertained
pretty generally in administration circles
as the fight has proceeded. 1t Is said
now rather confidently in quarters
where the tariff Is watched most closely
that the same sort OF thin majority
can be mustered on most OF the impor-
tant schedules for the committee report.
The personnel OF Senators who support
increases will change on every schedule,
and those voting for higher individual
schedules can be expected in many cases
to vote against the bill as an entirety
at the conclusion. Nevertheless, the
view Is gaining strength that there Will
be a tariff bill enacted before the regu-
lar session, whereas only few days
back the chance Of any measure was
rated pretty low.
Few things illustrate the sheer big
ness of the United States better than
q schedule of appropriations needed to
meet the cost of the 1890 census just
presented to Secretary Lamont. The
outside figure, for gathering the in
formation. preparing the statistics and
printing the report, Is $4,000, 900. That
is needed just to count up the pop
ulation of the United States and survey
some of the outlines of its business.
OF course, the census this year Is
taking in some new lines of inquiry, but
the expenditure in the main represents
simply the hugeneSs of the Nation.
The population count will be relatively
simple, but there will also be an in
curry to determine the actual amount
- Al {va IAM trNy h.
iect on which no one has ever had ac-
curate facts before. Next, there will be
a census of distribution, which will UNI
dertake to disclose the actual total Of
commodities sold In the United States
in the current year. and, finally, there
will be the regular manufacturing
census, covering the value of outputs
of the myriad processing plants in the
country.
Fact-finding remains q pretty hard
worked hobby Of the Hoover admins
tration. There has been set on foot
this Summer an enterprise from which
figures will be shortly available to show
the amount of expenditure on construc-
ton of all classes which is being un-
dertaken by States, cities and other
political subdivisions Of the country.
Further, the inquiry is directed to the
study Of possibilities Of accelerating or
retarding the rate at which this work
Is undertaken in each locality.
This last point the possible variance
of the rate Of construction Of public
works, is understood to be a matter of
particular interest to the President. In
1921 and following years. when unem-
ployment was severe, the theory was
developed that considerable alienation
could be obtained by building up a re-
serve of construction work in the pub
lie field which would be undertaken In
case there was any sign of slackened
business. The current studies repre-
sent a step toward developing POSSIBLE
tiles in that line.
Even though there is no deception Of
customers as to the actual nature of
an article, the Federal Trade Commits
sion has just ruled, its misbranding
constitutes improper trade practice.
The case in question was provided by
the manufacture and marketing Of an
imitation leather with the word
leather" used as part Of its brand
name and wholesalers who purchased
it did so with full knowledge Of its
status as an imitation.
Using the word leather" the COM |
mission held. though it would not de-
ceive jobberS, would have "a tendency |
and capacity to deceive the ultimate |
consumer into believing that it was |
genuine leather" It was agreed, the |
added, that the application
of the rule was going a step further in
the direction of protecting consumers
than 1t has ever gone.
Australians, by the test Of American
alarm clock exports. are either the
earliest riSers among peoples of the
world or they find 1t the hardest to get
up. Last month nearly half of the
entire alarm clock exports of the United
States crossed the Pacific to get to that
island continent. Australia took II, 704
alarm clocks, or Just about five times as
many as its next competitor of COM
parative size, which was Argentina.
Europe as whole gets along practically
without such devices or manufactures