Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-01
Barring Tariff Duties.

Barring 1arlu UuCleS.
Secrecy in the conduct of public bust
ness has received another jolt. Sena-
tor Couzens of Michigan. Republican
member of the Senate finance commit
tee, has let 1t be known that he does
not intend to observe the rule Of secrecy
which the Republican members of
the committee have adopted with re-
gard to changes made in the tariff h
in executive session" Executive" -
merely another way of saying behiAd
closed doors.
The Michigan Senator, it is reported,
intends to do openly what he suspects
IS being done privately by other per-
sons. He has become convinced that
constituents of other members Of the
committee are receiving privately infor-
nation as to what transpires behind
the closed doors of the committee room
This does not strike the Michigan Sem
ator either as fair to the public gener-
ally or to the committee. II the Mich
igan Senator had his way there prob
ably would be public announcement
each day of the decisions of the COM
mittee in regard to the tariff sched-
ules. While this method of dealing with
a tariff bill not only would be novel, but
also might be a handicap to the COM
mittee in an effort at an early COM
pletion of the bill, it would have the
virtue of being absolutely fair to all
parties.
Announcements Of decisions by the
majority members of the finance COM
mittee on tariff duties as they are made
doubtless would lead to appeals from
interested parties for further hearings
Indeed 1t is such requests as the COM
mittee proceeds with the consideration
of the bill today that led Senator Cou-
zens to the belief that many Of the in
terested parties are kept informed, one
way or another, of what transpires in
the secret sessions of the committee.
Decisions by the committee, after the
conclusion of the hearings on particu-
lar schedules however, might well be
final so far as the revamping of the bill
in committee is concerned. 1t is per-
fectly obvious that If there is to be a
rehearing of schedules as soon as the
committee has reached a decision re-
garding rates the consideration of the
bill must run on ad inf1nitum.
Senator Couzens has let it be known,
after his decision no longer to be bound
by the secrecy rule, that the Repub-
lican members of the committee have,
in effect, reduced the duties on automo-
biles from about 80 per cent to rs
per cent ad valorem by the expedient
Of striking out the countervailing pro-
vision in the House bill. This leaves
the Is per cent ad valorem duty. He
has further revealed the fact that
shingles and lumber. except hardwood
flooring, have gone back to the free
list.
1t has been generally understood
that the Senate finance committee
would cut down some of the duties
imposed in the House bill. The infor-
nation now obtained through the
Michigan Senator is clear indication
that such is the case. The duties car
ried in the House bill on a number of
building materials have been the cause
Of wide criticism. These criticisms SEEM
ingly have had their effect on members
of the Senate committee.
Except for the mechanics Of the
tariff bill drafting there seems little
difference in the public announcement
of decisions of the committee from day
to day and one announcement after
the committee has completed its con-
sideration of the entire bill. Daily an
nouncement of committee decisions,
however, would give the public earlier
knowledge of what to expect when the
bill was reported to the Senate and, in
cidentally, might form public opinion
in such a way as to have a distinct
effect on the legislation in the end.
The possibility of evil growing out of
withholding from the public the de-
cisions of the committee in regard to
the tariff duties lies in the danger
that there may be leaks and that those
to whom the information comes secretly
may take advantage Of the knowledge
so gained. The value Of full publicity
with regard to public business is be-
coming more and more apparent. Sc
crecy Is the handmaiden Of special ia
vorS.