Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-08
Politics at Large
By G. Could Lincoln.

has not satisfied entirely the repre-
sentatives of the farm group or OF the
manufacturers. This from the Repub-
lican point of view. The fire of the
Democrats is yet to come. The latter
may be expected to be loud and long.
In the main. the ways and means
committee Republicans, who framed the
tariff bill have followed the recon-
mendations of President Hoover, not
with regard TO individual rates, for the
President made no such recommends
TONS but in the general scope OF the
revision The fact that no one seems
to be entirely pleased with the measure
with the committee Republicans per-
haps excepted-may be an indication
that the tariff bill is what it should
be- under the theory of the Repub-
lican protective tariff. The tariff is
selfish affair any way you look at It,
A high rate on a commodity is good
for one person and not so good for
another. low rate works the same
way, but with reverse English.
X x X
The Republicans of the House have
yet to caucus on the tariff bill. There
is promise of real row over some of the
schedules when the caucus is held
within the next few days. Members
from the farm States, while processing
satisfaction with the rates placed on
agricultural products in the main, are
up in arms over the increases granted
certain products which the farmers
must buy. The rates on building mate
rails already have drawn the flre OF
Representative Dickinson and Repre-
sentative Ramseyer of Iowa. for exam
pie They say it is an outrage that the
duties on cement, shingles, brick and
lumber have been increased, on the
theory that these are materials which
the farmers must buy, along with every
other consumer, and that the increased
rates will be reflected in increased
prices.
While the farm State Representatives
are displeased with the increases grant,
ed on materials which the farmers buy,
there are Representatives from the in
duStrial States who seem little more
pleased with the bill. Representative
A. Piatt Andrew of Massachusetts, for
example, announces he can express little
enthusiasm for the committees bill. He
is displeaSed with the bill because 1t
has left both shoes and shoe leather on
the free list. 1t is not difficult to i'm
agine the howl which would have gone
up from other elements of the popula-
ton, however, If a duty had been i'm
posed on ShoeS-from the farmer Ear
satisfied, however. with increases and re-
classification of the fish and fish prod
uctS rates and with increased duties on
wool hats.
These are merely random expressions
of opinion by Republican members OF
the House. given to indicate the diverse
opinions of the tariff bill which is soon
to run the gantlet first of the House and
then of the Senate. There is TRADE
from many quarters over the sugar
schedule. the duties having been mate
rally increased. The large consumers
of sugar are protesting violently, while
growers of sugar beets and cane sugar
in this country are displeased with the
fact that Philippine sugar will continue
to be imported free.
Tinkering with the tariff has always
been q tickliSh affair for any political
party and full of danger for any adj
ministration. Tariff laws have resulted
in the defeat of both Republican and
Democratic Presidents who came up for
reelection in the past. They played
hob with Grover Cleveland at one time
and with William Howard Taft at an
other. The Republicans, however, sur
vived the passage of the present tariff
act, for President Coolidge was re-
elected in 1924 and President Hoover
vember Much depends upon the pros
perity of the country after a change IN
the tariff law. If the country continues
prosperous under the proposed new law,
despite criticisms from various groups,
when 1892 rolls around. it will take a
strong candidate and some other issue
to prevent the denomination ana re-
election of Mr.. Hoover.
* X =
While the flexible provision of the
tariff law has been retained in the
new bill giving the President the power
to increase rates so per cent, when II
has been shown that such increase is
warranted because of changed condl-
lions, the President is not given the
right to take commodities from the free
list and impose duty on them, as
was advocated in certain quarters.
Under the bill. however the President
will have authority to change the per-
sonnet of the Tariff Commission. II ne
sees fit. The size of the Tarln Board
is increased from six to seven members
and the pay of the individual members
is increased from $500 to $4,000.
This is in line with the Presidents de-
sire to increase the strength OF the
board. It is evident however, that
the House members are not willing
to relinquish their authority to deal
with the tariff duties as they see NJ
and when they see fit The tariff Will
remain a matter of politics.
X X X X
Seats in the United States Senate
never are permitted to go a-begging
There are always plenty OF candidates,
provided there is a ghost OF chance:
Next year about one-third OF the total
membership of the Senate comes up Tor
reelection, and already there Is not
little campaigning. both on the part OF
the present holders of the seats IN the
Senate but also on the part OF the
aspirants for such honors not now IN
the Senate Up in Maine there is to be
senatorial election, with Senator
Arthur r. Gould'S seat in the balance.
Senator Gould was elected to fill the
unexpired term Of the late Senator
Fernald, which ends March 4, 1881.
Representative Wallace White, who mas
represented his district, the second, LOT
seven terms, is reported to be candi-
date for the Republican nomination 10
succeed Mr. Gould. Mr.. White Is
chairman of the merchant marine and
fisheries committee Of the HouSe-a |
committee which has to do with many |
of the interests of Maine. He Is a
grandson of the late Senator Frye, who
served for 80 years as Senator from |
Maine, the immediate successor IN thaI
body of James G.. Blaine and the col !
league for many years OF the senior |
Senator Hale Mr. White was private !
secretary to Senator Frye and secretary |
OF the commerce committee OF the Sen
ate for a number of years. II there Is |
anything in heredity. when II comes 10 |
Senate seats, Mr.. White would appear TO |
be in line for the job. He has shown |
b;,,,ealf well nualifiad as LEGISLATOR, |