The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-11-04
The Tariff MIDDLE

Herbert Hoover has made quick and telling response
TO the demand voiced BY Senators johnson. OF California
and Harrison. of Mississippi, that he make his stand
on the tariff situation known. Instead of placing The
president IN an embarrassing position, the invitation O..
the two senator's merely provided the opportunity to go
on record again as recommending passage Of a tariff
bin that would increase protectivencss for the farmer
which vas the original proposal Of the president in call
ing the present special session OF congress. And it also
provided the opportunity 10 urge again retention OF the
ileSlblc provision OF tariff adjustment by presidential
proclamation c%nbodying recommendations OF the tariff
commission. II was to eInbarrass the president tina,
repeal OF this was voted into the tariff bill the senate
has been working on with such delay as to put into
question the sincerity Of both Old Guard and coali-
ton senators.
President Hoove. stated the situation with regard to
me flexible provision: with cllnching force when he said
tho wide diversences OF opinion in the senate were
themselves ample demonstration of the dcsirabnity OF a
real flexible clause, in order that injustice in rates could
be promptly corrected b. scientific and impartial in
~vcstigation and put III action without such delays a.
the present discussions give proof
The response has been to pu, new life into the bill
which Senator Reed, of Pennsylvania. had in a speech
in Philadelphia pronounced dead. His comment, as
ISOLATED with his acceptance Of a place on the naval
limitation delegation to London. put on his death sem
teace the Interpretation that the bill could not be made
a success on the basis of further industrial protection
ana perhaps can not DC passed AT all IN TINS SpHClai
session because Of that reason and Of tho Democratic
progressive coalition on it. As champion Of the eastern
industrial interests he naturally would be SO little inter-
csted in this prospect that he could afford to turn his
back on the whole mess and absent himself possibly
six weeks in Europe.
That another effort is to be made to put over the
bill-arcady passed by the house in a form which the
senate has maneled beyond recognition-as a resul.
of Hoovers statement, is deduced from coincident moves
-; tiz n-.-.z oA..st IT. A.-
buzzing. Senator Watson. the Republican leader, OH
Senator McNary apostle OF the farmers cause, is to
take over his role. Whether the energetic McNary can
deal more successfully with the coalition than Watson
could is a question. Offsetting the movement started
by the presidents statement is rumor that once the
Democratic progressive coalition has started rewriting
the Hawley-Smoot bill. the regular Republicans will
move adjournment OF the special session without doing
anything on the tariff. The Democrats presumably would
be as willing to skin their cat this way as in the way
they set out to do it with progressive aid.
Senator Borah has said the bill could be disposed Of IN
two weeks if the regular Republicans would permit the
Democratic progressive coalition to act. and President
Hoover is willing that the bill should be so disposed Of.
But Senator Eorah is ono Of the opponents Of Hoover
provisions desired in the bill, and it is virtually certain
that a deadlock between the two houses would follow
if the bill were passed by the senate with the flexible
tariff provision repeal in it.
This deadlock could. Of course. BE- allowed to go over
into the regular session opening III December. for the
struggle in conference to adjust differences between the
two houses would not interfere with either taking up and
considering regular business. except as it might creep
into the proceedings i'll the form of bitterness. A dead
lock under such conditions might prove a prolonged af-
fair in the background of the house and senate activities.
As tho situation now is, the tariff legislation ha,
dcgenerated into a most unpromisins middle of errors,
politics and follics which challenge the sincerity Of Ger
tain clements of the senate in protesting to legislatc for
tho public welfare.