Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-07-26
Credit Due The Minority.

II the country is going to be protected
against the extortions contemplated by the
Hawley tariff bill, credit for the rescue
must be accorded the Democratic minor
ity in the Senate. Under the leadership
of Senator Robinson, Of Arkansas, they
have exposed the iniquities of the sched-
ules proposed in the House bill, and through
them the people have become aroused to
the same fury Of indignation as caused the
wreck Of the Taft Administration over the
Payne-Aldrich tariff.
As result the Administration Senator'S
who purposed driving through that measure
with additional exactions, have been driven
into hubble and are now planning secret
sessions Of their part of the Finance Com
mittee. with the Democrats excluded, TO
decide what residue of the loot they dare
attempt to save.
When the directors OF Republican strategy
in the House of Representatives. con-
sultation with President Hoover-jettisoned
his pledge that tariff revision should be
confined to schedules pertinent to Farm
Relief, and such few others as applied to
industries that might show tangible evil
dence of depression because of foreign
competition. the assumption was that the
Senate would follow what has been its
course, whenever it had Republican ma
jority, and add another story to the sky
scraper character of the tariff bill.
Then we heard Senator Watson, of
Indiana, the Administration leader, an
nouncine complete revision OF the Fordney-
McCumber tariff Senator Smoot, of Utah,
prOclaiming that the sugar duty would be
high enough to satisfy his beet-sugar
constituents, and the rest Of the high pro-
tectionists in line. Now Watson is singing
in low key. Smoot is trying to maneuver
some sort Of sliding scale that will make |
the assessment on the family sugar-bowl
less obvious. Reed. of Pennsylvania, out |
against the project Of making of the Tariff |
Commission strictly partisan board. ap-
pointed by the President. who. under the
provisions Of the Hawley bill, would be
able to make the tariff practically what
he pleases. This would. Of course, repre-
sent surrender Of congressional authority
unparalleled since the principle of leeisla-
tive control Of revenue matters was estab-
lished as cardinal principle of Democratic
government.
Despite themselves. the Administration
forces find themselves being driven back
to the promise Of helping the farmer. 1t is
now quite possible that the sugar steal
will be prevented, that the indecent sub
terfuee Of making duty on hides, for the
farmers benefit, the excuse for boosting
the price Of every pair OF shoes more than,
the farmer would gain on the whole hide
would be blocked, and that at least some
Of the building materials would be kept
where they belong, on the free list.
Fortunately for the average citizen, the |
Progressive Republicans in the Senate have
Joined with the Democrats in exposing the
iniquities Of the Hawley bill-the combi-
nation is too strong to be easily run over
The fight is not won yet. by any means, for
there remains the familiar expedient of
log-roling and the use of the administra-
ton club when the Senate votes on the
measure the Finance Committee is now in
cubating. Undoubtedly some Of the weaker
Senators will be bribed by particular favors
TO industries and products of their own
States to support the bill, but even these
are not going to find it easy to defend such
a vote in view of the nation. wide revulsion
against extortions that have no better ex-
cuse than that the interests that furnished
the campaign funds for the last election
expect to realize handsomely on their in
vestment.
The Democratic Senators have in this
tariff battle shown front more nearly
united than has been the case 10 many
years. The public service they have rem
dered will not be forgotten. If the countrys
gratitude is commensurate with the coun-
try's gain because of their efforts. the
Congress to be elected next year will show
many seats now Republican filled by Demo-
Gratis.