The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-19
SHOWDOWN ON
TARIFF BEFORE
senate TODAY
Democrats Fight Bitterly
Smoot Move to Drop
Two Items.
BILLS FATE IN BALANCE
Deadlock Is Charged Likely;
Grundy Absent; Watson
Coup Feared.
BY PAUL r MALLON
United Press STAFF Correspondent

WASHINGTON, May 19.-Before
full and attentive senate, Chair
man Smoot of the senate finance
committee today presented the six
teen month-old tariff bill and asked
the senate to decide whether it
would stick by its debenture and
flexible tariff items which the house
has declined to accept.
Senators were called from sick
beds and from campaigning in their
home states as the important
parliamentary contest opened a
contest which may decide the fate
of the whole tariff measure.
Smoot encountered immediate
strong resistance from the Demo-
Gratis, Senator Harrison Dem,
Miss), threatened to filibuster to
kill the tariff bill if the disputed de-
benture and flexible provisions are
dropped.
Wants Nothing Better
ct will be long time before
you get this bill through if you
drop these items" he declared. Il
would want nothing batter than the
responsibility for killing this legis-
lation if these two saving provi-
sions are eliminated
Republican Floor Leader Watson
claimed he had the votes to save
the bill, as Smoot took the floor
to point out that unless the senate
cecedes from its position, the whole
tariff bill will be caught in par
liamentary stalemate.
HaSty conferences were held
among the Democrats and indie
pendent Republicans as Smoot
talked. The opposition was fearful
that Watson had changed the three
or four votes necessary to overturn
the previous senate action retain
Ing these two salient features which
the coalition wrote into the
measure.
Warns on Deadlock
Smoot demanded that the senate
adopt his resolution to free the
conferees' hands on the debenture
and flexible tariff, thus allowing
them to negotiate with the house.
He warned that if the resolution
were defeated, it would create a
deadlock which would endanger the
future of the bill.
Senator Swanson (Dem, Va de-
clared adoption of the resolution
would set a precedent that the
house could dictate terms under
which conferences between the two
houses we're to be held.
1T is a dangerous precedent and
would be set under threat, if we
adopt this resolution, Swanson de-
clared.
Among the few absentees today
was Senator Grundy (Rep, Pa,
who is campaigning for reelection
in the Pennsylvania primary Tues
Gay. His absence, however, was not
officially noticed as Senator Sim
mons (Dem., N. c. denounced the
house for attempting to coerce and
intimidate the senate in behalf OF
the administration.
SmoOt Issues Statement
every one knows if we adopt this
resolution, the debenture plan and
the flexible repeater will be elimi-
mated in quick order from the bill
said the venerable minority tariff
leader in answer to Smoot.
ut will mean giving in to the
house. 1t will mean the house has
forced the senate to acquiesce and
the house is using every instrument
and agency in its power to elimi-
nate these two vital items from the
bill.
Il warn you that if you pass this
resolution and eliminate these items
you will face another fight here.
urge the senate to stand by the two
items. do not believe it will kill
the bill, because if the house and
the administration want this legis-
lation there is a possibility the
house will change It's tactics of CO.
ercion and intimidation and will
yield to US.
IF they do not yield it will be
because the White House does not
want them to-"