Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07
TARIFF REDUCTION
IS SEEN IN SENATE
House Rates Expected to Be
SIashed by Finance Com.
mittee Action.
HG. GOULD LINCOLN,


House bill
II that be true, then doubtless the
rates will be cut still lower when the
bill is considere.. In the Senate itself.
For o majority Of the Republican
members of the finance committee, who
in the end viii draft the bill for report,
are reckoned hard-boiied high protec-
tionists.
There are several reasons for this
development In the tariff situation.
development which was not expected
few weeks ago
First, the reaction to the House bill
throughout the country has been hos
tile. The press Of the country, includ-
ing many of the staunchest Republican
newspapers have attacked the measure.
Second, the western farm States have
been particularly antagonistic to the
bill, because, while 1t gives increases In
duties on agricultural products. 1t also
manufactured and other products
which the farmers must buy.
Third, President Hoover in his mes
sage to the Congress advocated
limited revision" Of the existing tartn
law, and 1t Is known that the CHIEF
Executive considers the House bill goes
much beyond that mark.
Near End Of Work.
Under the original plan of procedure
the Subconlnaittees Of the Senate finance
committee which have been holding
hearings on various schedules, were TO
complete their work by July 10, permit
ting the full committee thereafter TO
hold hearings on the free list and the
administrative features OF the bill; IN"
GLIDING the flexible" tariff provisions:
while most of the subcommittee Will
have wound up their hearings by Wed
nesdav. the chances are that one or
more Of them. particularly that subcom-
raittee dealing with the metal schedule.
will continue for some days longer.
The Senate is due to recopvene
August 10. It Is doubtful now that the
committee will be ready TO report its
bill BY the time the Senate reassembles.
although Chairman Smoot will seek TO
have It in shape by that time.
But one thing last night appeared
reasonably certain in the tariff bill situ-
alton. A vote will be had on the bill
In the Senate and on the bill as 1t comes
from conference between the two houses
during the present special session and
before the regular session opens in De-
cenber. This assurance was given by
Senator Pat Harrison OF mississippi, one
of the Democratic members OF the
finance COMMITTEE He insists there will
be no effort on the part Of the Demo-
Gratis to filibuSter or unduly delay
passage Of the tariff bill.
I'VE want full opportunity TO discuss
the tariff bill and we want the country
fully informed In regard to It," was
senator Harrison's comment yesterday,
''but the minority party IN the senate
- Aatr IN Rp
islation by hlibustering tactics. me
bill viii be voted upon finally before
the regular session begins In December.
Predicts Hard Struggle.
Senator Harrison looks forward. how
ever, to O hard struggle IN the senate
over the bill The sugar schedule, the
administrative features of the bill, In
GLIDING the flexible tariff provisions,
and the duties on building materials are
among the items which VIII In MS
opinion result In the most severe con-
tests and the longest debates. the
Mississippi Senator announced ne
would demand the publication before
long of the protests which foreign
governments have fled with the State
Department against tariff increases
and which Secretary Stinson has
transmitted to Chairman Smoot OF
the finance committee. Protests have
come from a score of nations.
IF we are going to give onense 70
certain foreign countries ana are going
TO iniure our own foreign trade by
the part of other nations, before such
steus are taken, the American people
are entitled to know all the facts IN
the matter" said Senator Harrison.
The details Of the protests lodged with
the state Department against proposed
American tariff increases have never
yet been made public, Senator Harrl-
fore the full membership Of the hnance
committee.
Il is exnected that Senator Smoot
viii make public before long the slid
ine scale Of sugar duties, which he has
prepared for submission to the com.
nnittee. He Is authority for the state
naent that this sliding scale will pro-
vide TOR duties somewhat lower than
those in the sugar schedule OF the
HOUSE bill. The Democrats so far have
taken no position with regard to the
proposal for q sliding scale OF sugar
duties. They want to know what 1t Is
and ct Just what point 1t VIII begin
to slide. In other words, they fear
that the rates may be left as nigh as
they are In the House bill on sugar, but
with q proviso that under certain
Democrats would prefer to see the
rate hxed at q low figure, TO be raised
later by the sliding scale, II there Is
to be any such scale and II conditions
In the future warrant 1t.
Senator Bingham Of Connecticut, Re-
publican member of the finance COM
fnittee, is one of those committeeman
VINO have reached the conclusion that
the bill, as reported to the Senate,
ehouId ~ modified and will he modified
with rates somewhat lower. When 1t
comes to the details Of the lower rates,
however, there is not yet much predic-
tion OF hand. II may be presumed,
however, that some of the rates car
Rid in the House bill which have been
xaest severely criticized will be among
those In which reductions viii be made.
Conference Fight IL Seen.
Even II the Senate lowers the tarth
duties below the rates carried IN the
House bin, Is now sserns probable, the
Bill has yet to 90 10 conference, with
tie promise Of q hard fight by the
House to retain the duties written orig
inally by that body. However, tbs
Senate, II 1t lowers the duties, will have
the influence of the President behind 1t
Ia its contest with the House. And
lust as the House, backed by the Presi-
dent, won in it, fight over the farm bill
against the Senate, so the Senate, back
may be expected TO Win over the
House. If q combination Of Repub-
lican INSURGENTS and Democrats should
vYita the So-called export debenture
pian In the tariff bill as an amend.
fnert, the President would perforce be
placed Ia q position Of opposing the
Senate bill and standing with the House