Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-17
EXPLAINS
DEMOCRATIC AIMS
Denies Charges That Party
Is Constructing" Passage
of Tariff Measure.

Charges that the opponents Of the
tariff bill in the Senate are "obstruct-
ing" the passage of the bill are de-
nounced by Jouett Shouse, chairman
Of the national Democratic executive
committee, in q statement issued today.
Mr.. Shouse fatty denies that such Is the
case. and gives his views Of the plans
and purposes of the Democratic side in
the tariff fight.
| I'VE are hearing a good deal about
the question of responsibility for the
delay in enacting a tariff bill in the
extra session of Congress" said Mr..
ShouSe. Every speech in arraignment
OF the extortionate rates or the vicious
flexible provision and the, administra-
tive features of the bill is denounced
as evidence of nefarious purpose. The
evil of the situation lies in the presenta-
ton of measure utterly indefensible
in its purpose of favoritism to certain
interests and eXtortion to be levied
on the public. rather than in the efforts
to unmask the villainy of the Smoot-
Hawley tariff act.
Forum for Controversies.
1.-THE Senate is now the sole remain
ing open forum for controversies on
great public questions. The House, that
once had the distinction of being the
estate. It is not necessary to do more
than review the course Of the tariff
bill through the House of Representa-
tiveS to make this plain. The admins
tration members of the ways and means
committee In their sessions, from which
the Inintority members were excluded
prepared bill. the rates in which
were based on nothing better than the
demand of industries whose prosperity
s-A& A~{E l.
marked as to be advertised in the re-
ports of the Department of Commerce,
of which Herbert Hoover was the head
during the period covered. The only
other element that was apparent was
the influence of the President to secure
a modification of the flexible tariff law
that involved a vast extension of his
powers. a grant so abhorrent to the
principles of democratic government
reServing revenue-raising powers to
Congress that even so stanch an adj
ministration Republican as Congress
man James M. Beck of Pennsylvania
protested that 1t was unconstitutional
RULES were adopted shutting out any
possibility of remedy for the apparent
evils OF the bill and preventing any de-
bate of moment, so that the ways and
means committee bill was steamrolIed
through the House in the most summary
fashion.
Lobby influence Revealed.
"The lobby investigation has only
just begun. but already it is disclosed
that experts whose reports did not CO.
incide with the views of industries seek
ing favors were assailed and their dis
missal sought at the hands of the tariff
commissioners, and even of the PreSi-
dent and that in some cases reSigTa-
tions were compelled. 1t is nauseating
to the public that bill supposed to be
q revenue measure that affects not only
business, but the pocketbook of every
family head or householder, should be
subject to such unbelievable influence
and be dependent on such tainted in
terestS as are being revealed before the
lobby investigation.
THE Senate finance committee, or
rather the administration members Of
that body, as well as those of the ways
and means committee of the House,
have consumed about eight months In
framing this bill. They started in be-
fore the extraordinary session was even
convened. Now they are whining that
only obstructionistS are combating their
efforts to enact their indefensible prod
uct into law.
,'sThere could be no more beneficial
effort than the one to let In all the light
possible on this measure and enable the
American people to know what the
favored interests are seeking to put
upon them.
TT is the Democratic hope to take
the tariff out Of politics; to make Of it,
instead of bargaining contest and the
sharing of the spoils by those seeking
unmerited favors, definite economic
matter in the interest Of the whole
people. The tariff has been a foot ball