Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-22
SILENCE
PUZZLES SENATE
Majority Leaders May Ask
President to Explain
Tariff Enigma.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
It is intimated that some administra-
ton leaders of the Senate may attempt
to clear up the enigma of President
Hoover's views on individual tariff rates
by taking the question to the Chief
Executive himself
Throughout the long debate on the
Smoot-Hawley bill Mr.. Hoover ha:
maintained consistent silence on the
import levies, His message to the spe-
cial session made some recommends
tons with respect to the administra-
tive features and suggested a method
for determining where rate changes
might be advisable, but at no time has
he talked publicly of the tariff in terms
Of figures and commodities.
The present furry in the administra-
ton ranks was brought about by the
circulariZation of a story appearing in
the Kansas City Star to the effect that
the rates written into the bill by the
Democratic Independent Republican
coalition are more to Mr.. Hoover's Xix
ing than are those of the House meas
ure or those recommended by the SEN
ate finance committee.
Coalition Seeks Rate Cut.
The coalition has repeatedly exerteo
its strength to cut down rates on in
duStrial commodities and raise those
on agricultural products.
Senator Grundy, Republican of Penn
Sylvania, one of the Nations leading
high-tarih advocates for a quarter OF
a century, noticed The Stars article
and, after learning that the author had
conferred with the President before
writing It, had copies of it made and
distributed among a half dozen ad-
miniStration leaders.
Senator Harrison, Democrat, of Mis-
SisSippi, in turn called the article to
the attention of the Senate, with the
remark that even though the informa-
ton 1t contained came through 1.-The
side door" the coalition was proud to
have the President" with it "in this
fight"
The Mississippi Senator added that
1T would seem that there are people
in this country who are closer to Presi-
leader of the majority party in this
chamber and closer to the President
than is the senior Senator from Utah. %
The Kansas City Star story read, in
part:
AN unprecedented situation has de-
veloped in the making of our new tariff
law. Although the subject is economic,
it always has been handled politically
and therefore to the satisfaction of the
country, of course, including those parts
of it which have suffered most from this
handling. I suppose they have recog-
nized their interests are secondary to
Of kt1A frrV. %
the political parties that need the tariff
for partisan issue.
Story Caused Discomfort.
"But today we have the amazing
spectacle of a Republican President
prepared to accept a tariff bill made
by the Democrats and inSurgent Re-
publicans for no better reason than
that it is the kind of tariff bill this
Republican President had asked Re-
publican Congress to enact"
There was no doubt that the purport
of the story caused disconnected feel
Ing in the Republican ranks. Added to
this were some expressions of feeling
that Senator Grundy should be the one
to circulate the Kansas City story.
There is a growing inclination among
the Republican regulars to vote against
the coalition written tariff bill unless it
is radically altered in conference. The
possibility is looming, too, that the
regulars may make an effort to reject
the measure before it is sent to con-
ference.
Some of them were frankly perturbed
by The Stars article, especially after
inquiry gave ground for ar 'ording it
full credence. Grundy, however, was
not one of these. He declined 20 make
any comment beyond saying that nc
had noticed the story and had copies
made at his office. He conferred with
President Hoover yesterday on patron
age questions, but would not say whether
the tariff also had been discussed.