Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-07
Member Of the Associated Press.
The Tariff Coalition.

An OFFENSIVE ana defensive dilldhCc
against the tariff bill as reported to the
Senate by the finance committee was
declared yesterday by leaders OF the
Democratic and Progressive Republican
groups. Following a conference be-
tween Senator Robinson of Arkansas,
the Democratic leader, and Senator
Borah of Idaho, representing the Pro-
9ressive Republicans, it was announced
that the two groups would act together
10 upset the committee bill.
The actual test of battle is to be de-
layed, however, according to these lead
ers. Instead of pressing for action i'm
mediately on motion to recommit the
bill or a motion to limit 1t to the farm
and related schedules, Senator Robinson
and Senator Borah have agreed to let
the debate run on for time. Here is
a change in the plans of the coalition,
or at least change of front from that
advanced during the last ten days,
when opponents of the committee bill,
breathing fire and birthstone, were
ready to stake their all on an i'm
mediate showdown on the Thomas
resolution to strike out the rate provi-
sions of the bill except those relating to
agriculture. The implication of the
change in plans is that the opponents
of the bill after all have not been able
to count enough votes to assure the
adoption of their plan.
Quite naturally the Democratic Pro-
rressive coalition does not wish 10 take
a defeat right at the beginning of The
consideration of the tariff bill IN the
Senate. 1t prefers to educate" the
country to the iniquities of the Senate
committee bill, hoping thus to build up
a backfire at home which will stiffen
the backbones Of certain Senator's and
bring them to vote against the measure
as reported. The suggestion that the
country be educated" comes from sem
ator Robinson of Arkansas. an astute
and resourceful leader. He makes the
point that the country already knows
about the House bill, but that 50 far it
has had little information regarding the
Senate committee bill, which has been
pictured as a revision downward from
the rates of the House bill. While this
period OF education continues time VIII
be given Senator Robinson and the
Progressive leader to work on Senators
who may appear to be webbing over
the issue. The Democrats wish to pre-
sent as solid an array as possible. They
know that a small group of their own
party will not 60 with them in their ef-
fort to cut from the bill revisions of the
tariff favorable to industry. But they
wish to have this group as small as pos
sible.
The coalition. it is expected, not only
will oppose the Senate committee bill
! as now reported. but will insist upon
the adoption of the so-called debenture
clause designed az an aid to the farm
ers. This was strongly opposed by
President Hoover, when 1t was offered
as an amendment to the farm relief bill
and actually inserted in that measure
by a combination Of Democrats and in
surgent Republicans.
The prospect, as the battle lines are
drawn. is for a very pretty fight over the
tariff bill-a fight that may last Tor
months. President Hoover, 1t is known,
has been displeased with the extent to
which the revision Of the tarin law
has been undertaken, after he had
urged upon Congress a limited re-
vision" But, on the other hand, the
Democratic Progressive coalition goes
to the other extreme and proposes that
the revision shall be limited entirely
to the farm and related schedules. The
President had in mind aiding certain
industries which recent events had
demonstrated required further protection
from competition with foreign producers.
The early fighting in the Senate, IL
the plans of the coalition leaders are
carried out will come over the adj
ninistrative and so-called flexible pro-
visions of the bill. Under the latter the
President is empowered to raise or lower
tariff duties fifty per cent after recon-
mendations by the Tariff Commission.
The Democrats are assailing these pro-
visions vigorously. 1t may be expected
that the administration will resist as.
saults upon these features of the bill,
for it is understood that the President
is keenly interested in them.
-sSee-s---
Mussolini is proud of his children.
He may consent to become contented