The Washington times., 1929-07-15
LEOWEPS OF HOLL YW00D DIET REPORT WEIGHT REDUCTIONS
FIGHT LOOMING.
ON FLEXIBLE
TARIFF

Provisions Of the Hawley
tariff bill giving the President
vastly more power under the
flexible tariff rose to the fore
front in the tariff fight today
as the Senate Finance Com
mittee began hearings on the
administrative sections of the
House measure.
Coupled with this provision is the
revolutionary proposal of the
House bin to deny the right Of re-
view In the courts to importers by
making the Secretary Of the Treas
ury the supreme arbiter Of valua-
ton disputes.
Consider Systems
In the background were advo.
Gates Of the substitution Of the
American or United States valua.
ton systems for the present foreign
value method Of assessing tariff
duties. Application of either system
would vastly increase the tariffs,
since most Of them are applied on
a percentage basis.
Sen. smoot CN of Utah. chairman
of the Finance Committee, prepared
to push the hearings as rapidly as
uossible, SO that the committee can
begin the actual framing Of rates.
Hearings on specific rate pleas
ended Saturday.
simmons will Fight
Notice has already been served by
Senator Simmons of North Carolina,
minority leader, that he will make
a fight against the House provision
giving the President the right to
raise or lower tariff so per cent
ito euualize competitive conditions.
Uunder the present law, the presi.
dent can act only when the Tariff
Commission finds the actual differ
ence in production costs abroad
and at home justify change.
The new provision, 1t Is contended,
would not only transfer much of the
tariff-making power to the Presi-
dent, but would put virtually auto
cratic power in his hands.
While the provision is supported
by most high tariff advocates, it
is vigorously opposed by Joseph
Grundy, president of the Pennsyl-
vania Manufacturers Association,
one of the most widely known high
tariff proponents.
At the same time, Grundy is sup
porting proposals to substitute the
American selling price of a foreign
article for the foreign value as a
basis of tariff rates.
Evade Full Costs
1t Is charged that foreign pro-
ducers are able to evade the full
effect of the American tariff under
the present system. The action CT
France and some other countries in
denying costs of production aid
other information to American
agents also has contributed to the
demands for the change.
Chairman Smoot indicated thar he
favors the American selling price
as an alternative method of assess
ing tariff duties, ais Is now provided
in the House bill.
Buy Best Goods
Senator Goff R) of West Virginia
declared the threatened foreign war
fare over increased tariff rates al
ready had disappeared in thin air.
He said the business men -of the
world buy where they can buy to the
best advantage. He pointed out the
American tariff OF 1922 increased i'm
port duties and the volume Of Ameri-
can sales and purchase in foreign
countries increased.
Representative Mansfield D) of
Texas criticized the proposed 20 per
cent duty on boots and shoes. He
said the shoe industry has no for.
eign competition beyond the importa.
tion of children's and women's shoes.
He charged the real purpose of the
shoe tariff is to raise the price of
shoes and curb any possibility Of
competition by high taT4ff wall.