Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-17
EXPORT DEBENTURE
PLAN INTRODUCED
AS TARIFF RIDER
Bill Must Be Less General
in Scope Before Hoover
Will Sign.
AMENDMENT is OFFERED
IN SENATE BY NORRIS
President Holds That Situation
Does Not Warrant Wide
Revision.

Before President Hoover will aflx his
signature to a tariff bill, it must be
considerably less general in its scope
than the bill passed by the House and
which is now before the Senate.
The export debenture plan was intro
duced in the Senate today as an
amendment to the bill by Senator
Norris, Republican, of Nebraska.
This move is In line with long-stand-
ing plans of the debenture group to
seek incorporation of the proposition in
the tariff bill In the event it were
eliminated from the farm measure as
was the case.
Wants Limited Changes.
Because of certain domestic products
and commodities which have been
placed at a disadvantage as a result
of economic changes since the Fordney-
McCumber tariff bill went into effect
seven years ago. the President believes
a necessity has been created for some
limited changes in the schedules other
than agriculture. But he sees no oc-
casion at this time for general re-
vision or anything bordering on 1t. The
situation according to him does not
warrant that step and therefore he op-
poses setting up a new basis Of protec-
tive duties except in restricted sense.
In the Presidents opinion the test
of necessity for revision is. in the main.
whether there has been substantial
slackening of activity in an industry
during the past few years and con-
sequent decrease of employment due TO
insurmountable competition IN the
products of that industry.
Views Given in Message.
He set forth these views clearly in
his message to the first session OF the
Seventy first Congress, called by him
to consider farm relief and tariff revi-
sion. He has reiterated this view to
others with whom he has discussed the
subject.
It is true many Senators and Repre-
sentativeS have called at the Whlte
House to discuss tariff revision, but 1t Is
known that the President has expressed
himself exactly as he did in that mes
sage. Therefore, regardless of what
some Senators and Representatives say
regarding their talks with the President,
the President stands by his views as set
forth in that message.
Jones Confers With Hoover.
Although the President has not said
so publicly it is generally understood
that the Jones amendment to the Borah
resolution, which limits the tariff revi-
sion to only agriculture, meets with the
Presidents approval.
The Jones amendment at least covers
the idea expressed by the President in
his message in that it modifies the
Borah resolution by limiting revision
to agriculture and only those industries
which, during the past year, experienced
depression and setbackS by reason OF
increasing importationS.
Senator Jones conferred with the
President today. as did Representative
Garner of Texas, Democratic leader in
the House and ranking Democrat on
the ways and means committee. The
former said he did not discuss his tariff
amendment with the President today,
but said he had every reason to feel
from previous talks he has had with
the President that the latter approves
of restrictions placed by his amendment
to the Borah resolution. Representa-
tive Garner declined to reveal the ma
ture of his call.
Borah Opens Debate.
Debate on the resolution to limit
tariff revision to agricultural and re-
lated products got under way in the
Senate today with an opening state
ment by Senator Borah, Republican, of
Idaho, author of the proposal that the
House had exceeded the Republican
platform promises in the bill it passed.
IT look upon tariff revision" Borah
said. "as part of the program for farm
relief which this special session was
called to consider.
MY only purpose in offering this
resolution is to have an understanding
whether We are to undertake a revision
as part of that relief program or whether
we are to undertake general revision"