Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-11
TARIFF FLEX|DIL|TY
IS FORUM SUBJECT
Senators vandenberg and
Barley Give Both Sides
of Issue.


visions of the pending tariff bill were
expressed last night by Senator Arthur
H. Vandenberg, Republican, of Michi-
gan, and Senator Alben w. Barley,
Democrat, of Kentucky, in addresses
delivered from Station WMAL in the
National Radio Forum. arranged by The
Star and sponsored by the Columbia
Broadcasting Co. Senator Vandenberg
defended the flexible tariff, while Sem
ator Barley explained the position of
the combined Democrats and Republic
can progreSsives, who have succeeded
in eliminating this feature of the bill in
the Senate.
IT discuss the flexible tariff from the
viewpoint of those Republicans who
agree with President Hoover that Amer
lean commerce and agriculture must
not be chained in a tariff straitjacket
and be denied the chance to meet
new emergencies with new economic
weapons" said Senator Vanderberg.
I'VE are seeking" replied Senator
Barley, Ito preserve the only kind of
taxation that is not tyranny, which is
taxation with representation. taxation
which is imposed upon the people by
their chosen agents i'll the Congress
which they have established and which
is their only free and open forum"
Supports feasibility.
The flexible provisions of the pending
BILL which are similar TO those of the
existing law. permit the President to
raise or lower amy tariff duty within a
range of so per cent when the Tariff
Commission has investigated and re-
ported upon the rate. Such fleXibility
declared Senator Eandenberg, is nee
essary to meet changing conditions
without waiting for the operation OF the
cumbersome tariff machinery of Con-
gress.
Senator Barley called this a danger
Gus and unconstitutional delegation of
congressional power and favored the
substitute framed by the Democrats
which provides that the Tariff Commits
sion shall report its findings to Congress
and that Congress, instead of the Fres-
ident, shall decide whether rate shall
be changed.
If the Democratic substitute plan,
with the support of Republican progress
stves, should become part of the new
tar1H law, Senator Vandenberg con-
tended that national business would
be kept lin an uproar," as every pro-
posal to change an individual tariff rate
would probably lead to a general RE-
vision OF the tariff, or an attempt in
that direction, in Congress.
Senator Barley, while admitting that
legislative bodies are frequently cum
bersome and slow, compared with the
quick decisions of men dealing with
private business, asked whether they
should be abolished or belittled because
they insist that important matters af-
fecting the people shall be openly dis
cussed."
Text of Address.
Senator Vandenberg's speech follows:
1 discuss the flexible tariff from the
viewpoint of those Republicans who
agree with President Hoover that
American commerce and agriculture
must not be chained in a tariff strait
jacket and be denied the chance to
meet new emergencies with new eco
nomic weapons.
We start with the proposition that
there can be no American prosperity
without adequate Republican protective
tariffs which Offset lower wage and liv-
ing standards in competitive foreign
lands. These differences are measured
in general tariff laws like the one now
pending in the Senate, embracing ABS
printed pages and touching $4,000
items. But it is impossible. to pass
such bill oftener than once decade
s because the effort monopoliZed the bet
ter part OF a congressional year. In
gother words, it is impossible to change
these tariffs congressionally during
these long interludes, no matter how
economic conditions change or how
vital 1t becomes to meet new condi-
tons with higher or lower duties. We
are in dangerously rigid tariff wise.
To meet such emergencies the tariff
law of 1922 created 1exibility-a me-
dunn through which tariff protection
can progress with the times. 1t was
a recognition of the plain fact that
nothing in this modern world is static.
This f1exibility permits the Presl-
dent to move duty up or down. but
always within a SO per cent range of
change, when the non-partisan Tariff
Commission, after complete investiga-
ton, recommends that proven differ
ences in production costs at home and
abroad require these readjustments. It
permits us to keep pace with changing
times 1t is rule of progressive COM
mon sense.
Results in Six Years.
Since 1923 fexibility has operated
81 times, producing 80 increases and
reductions. In these days of primary
concern for agriculture it is worth re-
Numbering that this f1exibility has
produced tariff increases in behalf of
the farmer on wheat, eggs, butter,
cherries, onions, milk, cream and flax
seed.
Today's issue, raised primarily by the
Democratic party,>i whether this fleXI-
bility shall be abandoned in behalf OF
an expedient, political subterfuge, and
whether our tariff making shall rever.
to the dark ages
Perhaps the quickest way to illumi-
nate the issue is to analyze the atti-
tudes of flexibilitys foes as they inveigh
against the Hoover recommendation
and the majority Republican position.
First-They charge that we violate
the Constitution by permitting the
- eicfa tariff Anvi-
bility within limits ordered by Con-
Qress. The conclusive answer is that
the Supreme Court has passed upon
this specific issue, and by unanimous
decision has declared this f1exibility
wholly constitutional. No amount or
sound and fury in the Senate forum
can drown out this mandate. The lay
man takes his law from the Supreme
Court. There is no higher authority.
When we march with a unanimous
Supreme Court we march with the
Constitution. and no hostile eloquence-
however nobly meditated-can ambush
this conclusion.
Second-They charge that this as
an unWarrantable delegation OF power
on the contrary, il is but delegation
of mechanical administration, with
ultimate control remaining always IN
The Congress. It simply makes the Use
of power responsive. We do not sur
render a prerogative. We merely give
it serial vitality. To deny such a
principals it is being denied today
in the Senate-is to condemn many
Federal agencies without which moo
ern, complex government would fall
tstapnant. To force American pros
perity into such stagnation is suicide.
Fixed by Congress.
Third-In kindred strain they charge
that the tariff power is taxing power
,,,hicb ,o,,st remain with Congress.