Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-16
UPWARD REVISION
OF TARIFF |SSEEN
Extra Session in April to Form
Farm Relief Plans Held
Likely by Leaders.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

As the result of definite acceptance
that there will be speclal session OF
the new Congress soon after Marcn 4
there is intense scrutiny as to what Will
be done about the tariff and when.
The subject of the speculation. stateo
broadly, is whether the tariff as Whoie
will be revised upward or revised GOWN
ward. At present the generally &C,
cepted answer is that the REVISION VIII
be upwardly, decidedly
The order of future developments
runs about as follows: The extra SeS-
sion in April will be called primarily
for farm relief. Indeed, it can almost
be said the session is called wholly Tor
farm relief, Just what form the d.
rect farm relief will take is itself an
intricate question, but not material 10
the present article. 1t is rather con-
ceded that in addition to a speclflc
mechanism for direct farm relief, there
will also be Indirect farm relief by
means of tariff revision. AS respects
farm crops, it is taken for granted the
tariff revision will be upward and
nothing else.
Crops to Get Full Protection.
Farm crops now insufficiently pro-
tected will have the duties raised.
Farm crops not now enjoying tariff
will be made subject to protective
duties. The underlying intention is
that the American farmer shall nave
a substantially exclusive monopoly OF
the American market for all staple
foodstuffs generally raised in America:
Up to this point the probable taritt
program is fairly clear. AT TINS Pomt,
however, the matter OF the tarln on
manufactured goods enters the helo:
inifiQf1Va
the manufacturers themselves. many
of whom want higher rates. The first
question is, will the special session deal
at all with the tariff on goods other
than farm crops, and If so, how lar
will it go?
The present disposition of those who
control action in the lower house is
TO hold the extra session down strictly
to extremely slight action on the tar
If. There is very large body OF
opinion which believes the tariff as
whole should be revised ana will be
revised by the new Congress some time
within its two years of life. The House
leaders distinguish between the extra
session which will come in April and
the regular session which will come in
December.
General Revision May Be Deferred.
The expectation is to hold the extra
session down to the narrowest minimum
of action on the tariff. There is consid-
cradle amount of concession that at the
later regular session in December gen.
eral revision of the tariff may be en-
acted. On this latter point it should be
added there is at least some wish by a
few to prevent any general tariff re-
vision at any time by the present Con-
greSs. The balance of likelihood is that
there will be general tariff revision some
time during the life of the coming
Congress, and most probably at the
regular session beginning December
next.
The next question is: What will be
the attitude of the farmers and their
leaders as respects the tariff on goods
other than their own crops? There has
always been a school of farmers who
believe their interest is best served by
lower duties on manufactured goods
of which they are buyers. The farmer
point of view. is supplemented by a |
school of thought led by such men as
Democratic Representative Cordell Hull
of Tennessee, who believes at all times |
in holding the tariff on manufactures
down to a reasonable level In the inter-
est of consumers generally.
Little Demand for Reduction.
The real question, therefore, becomes,
what is the strength of the body of
opinion which believes, to state it
loosely, in tariff revision downward?
TO that question the answer, as of to-
day, and as of Washington, is that the
quantity of demand for revision down.
ward is smaller than at any other time
in IS years. Formidable demand for
revision downward may develop later,
but it does not now exist. To state it
another way, formidable opposition to
general revision upward may develop
later, but does not now exist in a
formidable degree.
The clearly prevailing sentiment as
of the present is to let the farmers have
all the revision upward they want, and
then ask the farmers to consent to
similar revision upward on manufac-
lures. Whether this is economically
sound is question on which many
persons hold decided views in the mega
tive. However, combining the present
dispatch to the atmosphere Of Wash
ington and to the present day, fair