Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-10-11
Hoover Plea For More Presidential
Power Turned Down.
BY SENATOR WILLARD E. TYDINGs.
October 8, 1929.

OCTOBER ., 1893.
The provision in the Tariff Bill now before
the Senate which gave the President the
power to raise and lower tariff taxes was
eliminated after ten days debate by a
vote of At to AZ. Thirty-four Democrats
and thirteen Republicans voted against the
retention of the Presidential rate-making
clause while thrty-eieht Republicans and
four Democrats voted to keep this power in
the hands of the President.
This contest. in the opinion of many.
was one of the most important in our
national history. The founders Of the
government placed the levyine of taxes in
the hands of the Congress. elected directly
by the people. In 1922 this principle was
changed. At that time the President was
given the temporary power to increase or
decrease tariff taxes within so per cent Of
the amount stated in the law. II was. in
effect, taxation by Executive Order. 1t was
contrary to the history Of the Anglo-Saxon
people who had struggled for centuries to
keep the taxing power close to the people
themselves.
President Hoover wished to retain this
power in his own hands. He opposed the
Congress exercising it. This is in line with
his whole political training. He has been
almost continually in governmental posi-
tons where he has had practically unlim-
tied power. This was true when he was
the War Food Administrator and he has
always been asking for power in every
position he has held. However. the placing
of unlimited power in the hands of one
man has never been looked upon favorably
by the American people. They know that
men hold public Office and while in the
one case the power may be correctly used
for the benefit of the people that at the
same time history shows numerous in
stances when that power has been used to
the detriment of the people. This country
is not and never will be kingdom. 1t is
at present what Lincoln said it was "A
government of. for and by the people"
There are Americans who despise this form
of government. who are ready to surrender
unlimited power to President-to make
that President more than king for the
term of his Office; but those who wish to
do this do not, in my judgment, represent
the bulk of the American people and the
Senate in Overthrowing the Presidents
request to give him this taxing power have
not only acted in line with all our past
history but will be indicated If an issue is
made of it before the voters of America.
1t is being pointed out by the press and
by other observers that it would have been
more appropriate for Mr.. Hoover to have
stated his position on the unjustifiable
tariff rates in the tariff law. which can not
help but increase the cost Of living to all
our citizens, instead of speaking out as he
has on the sole measure which gives him
additional power. AS was pointed out in
the debate, the President has more power
than any other man on earth. He is more
of king than any king who reiens. He
has the power of appointment of hundreds
OF thousands of officials. He is Commander
in-Chief of the Army and Of the Navy. can
make treaties with foreign countries, sub
ject to the approval of the Senate. besides
being the head of the dominant political
party in the nation. A request for more
power seems to be unwarranted. A frank
statement which would help to obtain for
those articles needing additional protection
and to keep those articles not needing it
from getting additional protection would
better serve the nations needs than the
losing fight Mr.. Hoover has just made to
have the taxing power, which belongs
rightly to the Congress. placed in his hands.