Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-24
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

A bitter controversy Is impending over
the Tariff Commission. No phase of
tariff revision is likely to produce more
| fireworks. In his message to Congress
| the President said, THE Tariff Com
mission should be reorganiZed and
placed upon a basis of higher Salaries
! in order that we may command men
of the broadest attainments." Repub-
lican leaders are now asking, Does the
President want us to legislate the pres.
ent commission out of existence, and if
not, how does Mr.. Hoover expect to
accomplish his reorganization?" Mem
| berS of the commission are appointed
| for 12-year terms-the long tenure being
designed to make the members immune
| to political pressure. If there are no
designations, the President can at best
make only two changes in the commits
sion's personnel during the next four
years--one in September, 1880, and one
| two years later.
X X X X
The term of the chairman of the
Tariff Commission, Thomas c. Marvin
of Massachusetts,, devout disciple of
protection" whose high tariff views
have been repeatedly assailed privately
| and publicly by his Democratic COL
dOCS llOL GhDAC u1IgiI lSCfF \ tlG
term of Alfred p. Dennis of Maryland,
! the vice chairman, who now styles him.
self Hoover Democrat" expires in
1886. Lincoln Dixon of Indiana is
slated to serve until 1888. Sherman j.
Lowell of New York, a Coolidge APP
pointee, has a commission which runs
| until 1910. The two whose remaining
tenure under their present appointments
is relatively short are Frank Clark of
Florida, 1880, and Edgar B. Brossard,
Utah, 1882. The law stipulates that
there shall be an even partisan division
on the commission, three Republicans
and three Democrats. That explains
in part why the commission is so often
deadlocked in reaching any conclusions.
The salary is $500 per year.
X 4 X
Senator Hendrix Shipstead of Mime
sofa, a leading member of the Senate
farm bloc" and an early and able
advocate of the repeal of national ORR
gins immigration quotas. is destined to
be on the sidelines during the present
special session. Stricken with severe
influenza during the closing weeks of
the last session, he got out to attend
a meeting or two of the Senate's agri-
culture committee three weeks ago, suf-
lClCa a. ACldHSC anu AIolo bCCll OCIAOuoAJ
i'll since then. He is going home to
Minnesota to recuperate just as soon
as he is able to stand the train journey,
and does not expect to return to Wash
ington until the Autumn. He is play
ing part just the same in the vicissi-
tudes of farm relief legislation He
recorded his vote by telephone last
Monday in favor of the export deben-
ture plan, when the Senate agricul-
ture committee by an 8-to-6 vote turned
down Mr.. Hoover's admonition and
elected to keep the debenture feature
in the bill.
Frances Bowes Sayre. daughter of
the late Woodrow Wilson, is being
doomed for the Democratic senatorial
She is not seeking the nomination nor
is yet even receptive candidate. But
some influential Democrats both inside
and outside the State are fostering
the boom, convinced that, once nomi-
mated, Mrs. Sayre could be elected.
They are not so sure that there is
any one else in the State who could
defeat ex-Gov. Alvan T. Fuller If he
goes through with his announced inten-
ton of capturing the Republican nomi-
nation. Fuller, with a Republican
lanei, mas always atIracCeQ the lnCreaS-
ingly large independent vote in the
Bay State, which contributed largely
to the election Of David /. Walsh, now
the only Democrat from New England
in the Senate. Mrs Sayre took an ac-
tive part in the campaign last year,
giving to AL Smith an enthusiastic sup
port, which made big hit with the
Massachusetts democracy. On the pro-
hibition issue, which seems certain to
cut large figure in the 1890 senatorial
campaign in the State. Mrs Sayre de-
clares that she holds the same views
as her distinguished father--a most
tactful answer to this politically trouble
some question. Mrs. Sayre Is devoted
wife and mother Of three children, and
AYERS that their interests come first
and that she is inclined to think that
her place is In the home.
Another exemplification Of the
Hoover idea of improving the efficiency
Of governmental administration by
bringing into play expert advice and
assistance on governmental problems
came into view this week. Secretary
pf Inferior Wilbur announced the ap-.