Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-12
The Right of Way.


The Senate yesterday gave the right
Of way to the tariff bill when Senator
Norris resolution to declare William S.
Wares seat in the Senate vacant was
amended by the Watson resolution to
take the matter up December 3. The
decision of the Senate, which was at
tackled by Senator Norris as victory
for Mr.. Ware, was in reality reversal
for those members of the Senate who
are seeking to prevent or delay action
on the tariff bill. When the vote is
taken finally in the Senate on Mr..
Wares right to hold his seat, Mr.. Ware
in all probability will be denied that
right, Some Of the Senators who voted
yesterday to postpone action in the case
until December will eventually be found
voting against the Pennsylvania.
The tariff bill is entitled to the right
Of way, even though the Ware case has
been hanging fire for many months. No
one will deny the significance Of the
Ware case. Involved in it are questions
of great Importance, including clean
elections and the right Of State to
send to the Senate any man it may
see fit. No one doubts, however, that
the Ware case would have been settled
by the Senate long ago had it not been
for the fact that Mr.. Ware was stricken
with paralysis last year. He had been
promised the right to appear in his de-
tense In the Senate. It was obvious
that he could not do so because of the
state of his health, and the matter was
allowed to drag along largely because
his opponents in the Senate did not
wish to assume the attitude of perse-
cutting a sick man. Recent reports that
Mr.. Ware has in large measure recovered
his health have led to demands, like
that of Senator Norris, that his case be
settled. The country, however, has
waited for the disposition of the Ware
case for more than two years, he hav-
ing been elected to the Senate in No
vember, 1925. 1t is likely that it can
wait for a few more months without
harm to any public interest.
The present session Of Congress was
two major problems-farm relief and
tariff revision-a limited tariff revision.
The first has been dealt with in legis
lative way through the passage OF the
farm relief act, setting up the Federal
Farm Board which is now operating for
the benefit Of the farmers. That law
was not in accordance with the views
Of Senator Norris and other Progressives
and Democrats in the Senate. They
held it up for weeks by insisting upon
putting into the bill the so-called de-
benture clause, which was strongly OPP
posed by the administration. It became
a law without that clause, and the ad-
ministration scored one.
The lineup on the tariff bill in the
Senate Is not entirely dissimilar to the
coalition which was formed on the
farm bill. President Hoover, however,
may be expected to be the gamer in the
tariff bill fight in the Senate because
the coalition has already forced a re-
vision Of the House bill. But the tariff
Is q problem which in the course OF
orderly government must be disposed OF.
and the sooner the better for business
and for the people generally. The
farmers need further protection through
the assistance Of the tariff and certain
manufacturers are entitled to further
aid from it, too, If the principle of the
protective tariff is to be continued In
this country.
The signs are for protracted debate
In the Senate. To throw the Ware case
into the Senate for consideration at
this time would have made impossible
final action on the tariff bill before the
opening of the regular session in
December. 1t may even now be impos-
sible to get final action on the measure
and send it to the President before
December 3. But. on the other hand,
1t may be possible to have the Senate
act on the bill and send it to conference
before that date. And once the Senate
has passed the bill a big hurdle will
have been leaped.
Yopoy, fc waking q Gallant oY1d AZ.