Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-29
Tariff Proposals by Hoover
Discussed Along Party Lines

Arguments for and against the tariff
Suggestions of President Hoover are
along partisan lines, with a few ex-
ceptions. His desire to create a scien-
tific basis for rates gains support as a
means of divorcing the subject from
politics, while opponents maintain that
politics will continue to be a factor.
More effective use of the flexible tariff
plan, with increased importance for the
Tariff Board. is similarly productive of
differences of opinion, critics objecting
to the executive power involved.
President Hoover favors much more
efficiency in the system under which
the commission recommends to the
President administrative changes in
tariff rates, says the Columbus
Ohio State Journal (Republican)
1.-THE flexible tariff idea is all right
but 1t is not good unless it Is ably
and disinterestedly applied. President
Hoover's recommendations are good.
He wants to get everything. even the
neSslike way" The Wheeling Intelli-
gencer (Republican), In expressing its
approval. holds that there is marked
sentiment for the changing of the
tariff basis from the present uncertain
method Of equalizing foreign production
costs with our own to system whereby
wholesale costs a truer basis of value,
would be equalized by import levies."
The Tariff Commission, he intimates,"
as observed by the Chicago Daily News
independently. has been too slow, too
timid and too weak. And so it has. He
would reorganize it, pay higher salaries
to its members. attract men of highest
attainments and vest in them authority
to recommend secondary changes with
out fear or reluctance. Thus he would
give to industry and consumers alike
reasonable security for the future. Mr.
Hoover's ideas regarding the principle
and method of tariff revision by Con-
gress at the present session are sound
and progressive. Business sentiment
should support them and should urge
Congress to heed his advice"
4
with business and industrial con-
ditions generally prosperous, the sound
course to pursue, as Mr. Hoover sug-
gests, is to look after the sick indus
tries only" says the Fargo Forum (Re-
publican), while the Savannah Morning
News (Democratic) contends: "Protec-
ton is no longer sectional and no
longer a dividing line between farm
and factory. If that is true, and evil
IDENTIFY 1t Is, just where is the oppo-
sition to protection to have a founda-
ton in economics? And If 1t loses its
foundation In economics, 1t is bound to
lose it in politics. Which may not be
palatable for old-line Democrats, but
which is a fact nevertheless"
A different point of view is taken by
the Atlanta journal (Democratic),
which argues: ut may be- said that
economists regard agricultural tariffs
as Intellectual where a country's har-
vests are in excess of its domestic needs,
and where, accordingly. duty on i'm
ports can scarcely serve to raise the
domestic price. Presumably then. the
President has in mind Gas one means
of aiding agriculture) commodities
which are not produced on American
farms to the extent OF an exportable
surplus and which must meet competi-
ton from abroad. $50 Time and again,
American agriculture has looked to Re-
publican tariffs for help. but in vain.
Once more the farmer Is likely to find
If he trusts to that advice, that he is
leaning on broken reed"
II y
That protective tariffs are "a detri-
ment to the farmer In two ways Is af-