Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-11
Tariff Storm Clouds.

The Republican leaders of the House
are engaged in an effort to throw oil
on the troubled party waters which
have followed in the wake of the intro
duction of the tariff bill. Yesterday
afternoon the Republican members met
In conference. Protests against certain
features of the measure were given an
airing in the hope that the dust Of
opposition which has blown up from the
Western prairies as well as from the
industrial centers of New England could
be laid.
AS a result Of the conference It is
reported that concessions may be made;
that the House will be given an oppor-
tunity to vote directly on some of the
schedules. 1t is not the plan of the
House leadership, however, to throw the
gate wide open and permit individual
members to offer such amendments as
special rule will be brought in desig-
mating the parts Of the bill which may
be subject to amendment. This is a
practice usual in the House in the con-
sideration Of a general tariff bill. To
do otherwise, with a membership of
ABS strong, might lead to an Interim
nable debate OF the tariff bill and break
down all semblance of party regularity.
For the tariff, as was said many years
ago, is a local issue" with every COM
ifS v,Ie
increases or reductions In the duties.
The Representatives OF the farm
States are up In arms over the duties
imposed in the bill on shingles, lumber,
which must be used by the farmers as
well as by every one else. They are
dissatisfied too, with the rates fixed
on several Of the products Of the farm.
From New England comes vigorous pro-
test against the failure to levy a duty
on shoes. The American shoe industry
is suffering intensely, 1t is said, from
the competition Of Czechoslovakia and
other European countries where labor
costs are scarcely more than half what
they are here. Large users of sugar
are flooding Congress with protests
against the proposed increased duties
on that commodity and at the same
time sugar beet producers in Colorado
are protesting against the failure of
the ways and means committee to check
free entry of sugar from the Philippine
Islands.
While the Republicans in the House
are divided among themselves over the
proposed tariff rates, the Democrats
Eave already begun their attacks on the
bill a. whole. The efforts Of the
Republican members OF the ways and
means committee and OF President
Hoover to confine the amendments of
the existing law within reasonable
bounds have resulted apparently in
few groups. The new admins
tration already has struck a snaK over
its farm program with the Republican
insurgents in the Senate on n rampage.
The storm clouds in the House over
the tariff bill are not calculated to
NAShCen the prospect Tor. speedy dis
position by the Congress of the two
great tasks for which it was called
in the special session by Mr.. Hoover.
Already the voice Of the croakers has
been raised. Republicans who warned
the President against calling a special
session of Congress so early in the ad-
repeat again and again
that trite old phrase, II hold you So" |
Despite the party troubles which have
arisen the President, however, took the |
holder course when he called Congress-
to deal with farm relief and tarin re-
vision. Unless the Republican party |
leaders and the rank and file lose all
sense Of responsibility and direction
these problems will be solved.