The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-09-25
CAN'T REASON WHY
PRESIDENT HASNOT
SPOKEN Up BEFORE
Difficult to Reconcile Execu.
tive's Stand With That on
0ebenture Plan
HAS YET TO 0kAY TARIFF
Flexible Clause Constitutes the
Power Of Life or Death
in United States
HAS YET TO okAY TARIFF

Washington. Sept. Is. -F,-
senator La Toilette. Republican,
Wisconsin. said IN tho senate 10.
day that intrigue and political
influence Of Presidents Harding
and Coolidge had destroyed tho
usefulness Of tho tariff commits
sicn' and resulted In "traEic
failure Of the flexible provisions
Of the tariff law"
Washington. Sept. 25.-(P,-presi..
dent Hoovcr's statement advocating
retention III the tariff bill OF tho
flexible provisions was attacked in
the senate today by Senator La Fol.
lettc. Republican. Wisconsin, who
with other Republican independents.
Is expected to join with many dem-
ocrats III opposition to the principle.
COntending 1t was difficult to rea.
son why the president had not .brok-
en- his silence" on the tariff before in
view OF MS action III throwing the
great weight Of hts office against the
debenture plan during the debate on
farm bill, La Toilette said Mr.. Hoover
had not spoken to indicate whether
ne approved the pending bill.
He has not indicated whether the
Dill complies with his ambitious state.
ment III his message to the special
session." the Wisconsin senator
avcrred
Flexible Clause Powerful
The Wisconsin senator said It vas
not difficult to understand why the
executive desires to keep the "enor.
nous power conferred upon him hy the
act OF 1922" He added the people had
seen the continual absorption oe
power BY the president until TODAY
the trainers of the constitution would
not recognize that great document
Tne flexible clause. La Toilette said.
constituted the power of life or death
over the institutions of business and
agriculture III this country.
Necessary Says Hoover
The president. in his public state.
ment. described the flexible tariff "A
a necessity in protection of public
interest Asserting that under pro.
visions OF the law. the president has
no authority to initiate any changes
III the tariff but is empowered merely
to act on recommendation OF q bi.
partisan commission made up OF
members approved by the senate. he
held that in no sense. therefore, can
1t be claimed that the president can
alter the tariff at will, or that other
despotic power is conferred upon the
executive" It's constitutionality. he
recalled. has been upheld by the sus
preme court.
He cited as reasons for continuing
the policy the rapidly changing ecos
nomic conditions. the need for pro.
viding against injustices and the exc
perlence OF the last half century
showing that congress can not re-
open single items Of the tariff with.
out importing discussion all along the
line. without the constant unsettles
n,ent Of business and the importation
Of contentious and factious questions
TO the destruction Of other important
duties Of congress
He argued that agriculture espe.
cially had received great benefits
through this provision" and pointed
to the dairy industry as an example.
saying It would be III a sad plight
today II it had not been for the IN.
creased duties given under the flexs
ible tariff"
Is Progressive Step
"The flexible provision is one Of the
most progressive steps taken Ia tar
If making in all our history" he
said, adding that he was informed Is
had the support Of farm. mauulacs
turing. labor and consumers organs'
izati0nS and has never hitherto been
made political issue"
Il have no hesitation In saying. =
he concluded. that regard It 6 oe
the utmost Importance In justice To-
the public. as protection for thu
sound progress in our economic syss
tenn, and for the future protection Of
our farmers and our industries ana
consumers, that the flexible tariff.
through recommendation Of the tariff
commission to the executive, should
be maintained"
The statement was made public lato
yesterday just Is the senate was ret.
ting under way with debate on tho
issue. It was promptly described ~
Senator Harrison. Democrat. Missis.
sippi, as Reputation" by the pres.
ideut Of Senator Watson Of Indiana,
the Republican leader. who told thu
senate last week ne would use hie n.
fluence to keep the executive out e
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