Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-25
Mr.. Hoover Wades In.


the responsible Republican leaders IN
the Senate, President Hoover has waded
into the tariff fray. In ringing White
House announcement he advocates re-
tention of the flexible provision which
has been part and parcel Of the. tariff
structure since enactment Of the Ford
rey-McCumber law.
In the interests alike of industry.
agriculture and the whole American
economic system, the President re-
afarms his advocacy of the flexible
plan. Experience, he asserts. justifies
its maintenance. He instances the raise
in various dairy products. which have
taken place under 1t. as an example OF
the fuller protection" 1t affords the
farmer.
Mr.. Hoovers blast, as his periodical
outgivings on controversial occasions
usually do, reverberates with convincing
arguments, tersely set forth. He ex-
plains, so that all who run may read,
exactly what the flexible provision is.
He riddles the theory that it connotes
any executive autocracy, or overrides
prerogatives of Congress. He points
out how presidential power to alter
rates is wholly dependent on previous
action recommended by the bipartisan
United States Tariff Commission.
The White House pronunciamento is
eloquent on another score-one on which
there is likely to be based belief that
Mr.. Hoover will not withhold approval
of the tariff bill now in the making.
mo tariff bill ever enacted has been
or ever will be perfect" the President
asserts. 1T will contain injustices. 1t
is beyond human mind to deal with all
of the facts surrounding several thou
sand commodities under the necessary
conditions of legislation and not to
make some mistakes and create some
injustices. 1t could not be otherwise"
It is an open secret that the Hawley-
Smoot proposals, notably in the indus
trial schedules, variously outrun Mr..
Hoover's views of what is necessary for
protective" purposes. He called for
Limited changes" in rates on manu-
features. He particularly urged Con-
gress to remember that American trade
extends beyond the twelve-mile limit
and plainly limited that excessive tariffs
on foreign imports can become game
at which others can play to American
disadvantage. The proposed new tariff
act bristles with things that the Presi-
dent must look upon as imperfections.
Yet he now comedies the inevitability
Of such flaws in any tariff measure.
His statement is bound to encourage the
prospect that, unable to obtain the
exact kind of bill he prefers, Mr..
Hoover will take what he can get.
AS a political stroke, the Presidents
Intervention in the tariff controversy
ranks with his eleventh hour and tri-
umphant role in the farm debenture
fight last Spring. Then, as now, the adj
ministration program was faced by
menacing Republican, rogressive-Dem
ocratic coalition. 1t had already gone
on record in favor of debenture. Then
the Hoover guns were trained on the
unholy alliance and it was dispersed.
The President now brings up heavy
artillery against the opponents of the
flexible tariff, which is regarded in
many quarters as the crux Of the whole
situation in the Senate.
Now and then men say Herbert Hoo
yer is mo politician" Such politics"
as he has. they lament, is of the boy
Scout" i.e., amateur. brand. But the
White House barrage on behalf of the
flexible tariff discloses the President in
action far removed from political in
eptitude. In one breath he shows the
Western Republican Progressive bloc
what the provision has done for its
pet interest, agriculture. In the next
he reminds his Democratic senatorial
foes that none other than important
Democratic leaders" in the 1928 cam
paign "even advocated the increase Of
powers to the Tariff Commission, so as
practically to extinguish congressional
action"
IT do not support such plan," says
Mr.. Hoover in quiet thrust, likely to
make dent even in the most Har-
risonian of Democratic hides
The President has nailed his tariff
colors to the mast. 1t is fight to the
finish now between the White House
and the Senate.
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