Evening star., 1929-06-10
Senate Democrats Fail to
Agree on Date for Tariff
Bill Vote.
FAVOR EARLY DISPOSAL
OF NATIONAL ORIGINS
Minority Leaders Would Consent to
Majority Arrangements for Hear
ings on Impost Measure.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,

Plans for long recess of Congress
during the Summer months seemingly
were knocked into cooked hat today
when Senate Democrats in caucus de-
c1ded they would not agree now to fix a
date for vote on the tariff hEa,
One of the essentials to bring about
recess of Congress, advocated by Sen
ate Republican leaders, until September,
has been an agreement fixing a time for
a vote on the tariff bill.
Following the Democratic caucus to-
day, Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
minority leader of the Senate, read the
following statement:
"The conference discussed at length
the business of the Senate, including
farm relief, national origins and the
tariff. The unanimous opinion of those
present appears to be that vote should
be taken in the early future on the
motion to agree to the conference re-
port on the farm bill and the question
relating to national origins.
Orderly Procedure" Favored.
"We will consent to any arrangement
the majority desires pending the hear
lngs on the tariff bill, but no agree
ment will be entered into now to fix
a GATE Tor vote on the tariff bill.
our desire is to proceed in the Sen.
ate In such matter as will dispose of
all questions brought forward during
the extra session in an orderly way.
and We believe this disposition should
De made during the present session.
There is no purpose to delay action
on any of the subjects referred to. but
we feel that they should be proceeded
with as promptly as practicable.
so far as the chairman of the con-
terence now knows a vote may be
reached tomorrow on the farm bill con-
ference report and before the end Of
the week on the national origins issue"
The Democrats have not closed the
door against a recess during the hear
lngs before the Senate finance commit
tee on the tariff bill However, the f.
nance committee has ALREADY de-
termined that its hearings must close
not later than July 10. A recess during
the hearings and even during the two
or three weeks that the committee may
require to rewrite the bill would not
give the legislators much time to be
away from Washington. Such a recess.
however, seems to be all that is prac-
ticahle under the circumstances. unless
the Democrats should change their
mind or the Republicans be satisfied
with an agreement to limit debate on
the tar1H bill after a certain date fixed,
Inc democrats might be willing to en-
ter into an agreement for the linita-
ton OF debate. it was indicated.
Report Discussed Thoroughly.
/. Senator Robinson said that the farm
ny-k
discussed, but that no effort was made
to bind the members of the confer
ence to vote against the report. Final
action on the conference report depends
In large measure, however, on the vote
cast by Democrats. The supporters Of
debenture, which is opposed by the
President and the House, are expected
to vote to reject the conference report,
which omits debenture. All but four Of
the Democrats of the Senate voted in
favor of the debenture clause when the
bill was before the Senate originally.
They were joined by a group of Re-
publican insurgents. The coalition wrote
the debenture clause into the bill with
a margin of three votes only. A shift
of two votes might bring about agree
ment to the conference report and send
the farm bill to the Senate.
The statement issued by the minority
leader indicated clearly that the Demo.
crats do not wish to be placed in thi
position of delaying or preventing al
farm legislation. The statement says,
indeed, that the Democrats believed
prompt action should be taken on this
measure However. if that action results
in bringing about a deadlock between
the Senate and the House over the farm
bill it does not appear that it will hasten
farm legislation.
Walsh Opposes Farm Bill.
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts,,
Democrat. who voted against the deben-
ture plan when the farm bill was before
the Senate, said today he would vote
against the conference report on the bill
which omits the debenture clause. Sem
ator Walsh explained that he had not
his opposition to the debenture
plan, but that he was against the whole
farm bill.
Senator King of Utah. another Demo-
crat, is expected to follow the same
course as Senator Walsh, although he.
too. voted against the debenture. The
opposition of these Democratic Senators
to the conference report may materially
affect the result Of the vote on the re-
port, which is expected tomorrow.
There were signs today that some OF
the supporters of debenture in the Sen
ate who would rather have the farm
bill passed without debenture than by
their insiStence on debenture prevent
all legislation, might in the end vote for
the conference report. On this Is based
the hope of administration leaders that
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