The Washington times., 1929-11-09
RECESS ASKED
ON TARIFF
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Formally * n wledging the
power Of the Democratic-insurgent
Republican coalition to dominate
the Senate, Senator Smoot (R) Of
Utah, chairman of the Finance
Committee, today proposed a Sen
ate recess until November 20 to
permit the coalition to completely
rewrite the Hawley-Smoot tariff
bill.
The offer was rejected by Sem
ator Simmons of North Carolina,
Democratic tariff leader, who de-
manded that the Senate proceed
in regular order to dispose of the
bill.
Although the domination of the
coalition has been evident ever
since it began to slash the rates
proposed by the Finance Commit
tee, Smoot's statement on the
floor of the Senate was the first
indication that he is willing to
abandon the high protection
rates.
In offering to let the coalition
rewrite the bill. Smoot said: IT
realize we can make little progress
here. I am ready to recess the
Senate today until November 20
and in the meanwhile, the coaH-
ton can study the bill, prepare
its amendments and then we can
proceed to vote on all amendments
without further discussion"
"I can't accept that" Simmons
retorted. 81 don't propose at this
stage to reHake this bill in COM
mittee, but we do propose to re-
make 1t, not in secret but here on
the floor Of the senate in the pre-
sence of the American people.
| From now on, there will be
very little discussion. We will make
very rapid progress. / feel we will
be able to dispose of all amend
ments and act on the bill itself
before the termination of this Ses-
sion Of Congress. I certainly hope
So."
Senator Borah CRO of Idaho,
announced that the coalition ao-
cepted full responsibility for pass
age of tariff legislation but op-
posed Shoots plan to have the
bill rewritten outside the senate.
Instead, the Idaho Senator
said, the senate should devote
its time to voting on amend
ments instead OF debating.
With the coalition in full
power, he said, the senate can
proceed 20 vote On hundreds Of
amendments quickly and with
out debate, leaving only q few
such controversial items as sugar
and lumber for discussion.
''It is incumbent on us to
dispose of this bill as rapidly
as we can and If we do not do so
we will be held responsible for
the delay" Borah said. I'VE can
not escape that responsibility"
He declared that the admin
iStration changes, including the
flexible provision amendment
and the export debenture are far
more important than rates.
IF we appreciate our RESPONSE
bility we will so conduct ourselves
as to guard these important pro
visions of the bill. and the only
thing we can do is to quickly pass
it on to those who will wreck it
If 1t is wrecked"
Norris Throws Bomb
Meanwhile Senator Norris of
Nebraska. veteran inSurgent
leader, who seeks to slash tariff
rates on articles the farmer buys.
threw new bomb into the tariff
Squabble, by introducing a dras-
tic amendment aimed at profi-
teering.
Charging that importers and
doroestic manufacturers frequent
~ fix prices in total disregard of
tariff protection, he proposed to
levy an additional tax Of 80
per cent of the amount by which
the retail price Of an imported
article exceeds the imported price.
plus tariff. freight and insurance
and 25 per cent margin for
doing business and profits.
The amendment was prompted
by disclosure in debate that for
eign and domestic cream Separa-
tors sell at prices so high that
the tariff apparently is disre,
carded.