Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-29
The Tariff Bill Passes.

The Hawley tariff bill passed the
House yesterday by an overwhelming
vote. AS was expected, the House dlVld-
ed largely on party lines. But twenty
Democrats. coming from widely sepa-
rated sections of the country, voted for
the final passage of the bill. Only
twelve Republicans were recorded
against it. The support given the
hill nv a score of Democratic members
of the House is a bitter pill to the
Democratic leadership, which has count
ed on making the Republican tariff an
Issue in the congressional campaign
next year. It Is true, of course, that the
bill is not yet in its final form. 1t has
vet to be passed by the Senate and 10
20 through the conference stage. How
ever. the Democratic TRADES delivered
AGAINST the measure during its con-
alteration in the House proved unaVail-
ing. either to change details OF the bill
agreed upon in the Republican caucus
or to bring about solid opposition on
the part of the minority.
The Hawley bill is the result Of COM
promises. It carries many items OF
benefit to the American farmer, seeking
to preserve to him the American mar
kets for his produce. 1t increases rates
also on certain manufactured products,
which In the opinion of the House re-
ouire greater protection than is now &C
corded. A number of articles have been
taken from the free list and given pro-
tective rates of duty. The Democrats
have cried from the housetops that the
bill is an outrage upon the American
consumer; that the cost of living in this
country will be materially increased.
That is the criticism which has been
leveled at every Republican tariff bill
passed by Congress. The cost OF living
has increased in recent years, but that
has not been confined alone to America.
Costs have mounted the world over, and
modern civilization is still paying the
huge debt growing out of the World
War. Under the protective tariff system
American industry has been developed
to a point which has made millions OF
workers prosperous and able to main
tain a higher standard Of living than
ever before attained.
The Hawley tariff bill was passed
with one of the greatest majorities ever
given such a measure in the House. II
fell only three votes behind the record
vote which put through the Fordney-
McCumber act. The latter is the exist
ing law. The bill was the subject OF at
tack from many quarters when it was
reported to the House. BY agreeing to
a number of amendments, however, the
WAYS and means committee made II
possible to line up practically the entire
Republican membership Of the House
for this bill and also to obtain Demo-
cratic support. A desperate effort was
made in the closing hours of the day to
curb the Presidents power over the So
called flexible provisions Of the bill, un-
der the leadership Of Representative
Garner, the Democratic leader. 1t failed
signally.
The House has set the Senate an ex-
ample, putting through both the farm
relief bill and the tariff bill, the
major purposes for which the special
session of Congress was called by Presi-
dent Hoover. The Republicans Of the
House have given a demonstration o.
party solidarity which up to the present
time has been absent from the Repub'
ncan membership of the Senate. 1t il
lack of such responsibility on the par
of Republicans of the Senate which
even now threatens the administration!
program and is delaying the aid prom
ised farmers and manufacturers ane
workers during the campaign last year