Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
New Combination on Tariff
Threatens to Undermine
Older Alignment.
RECONSIDERATION MOVED
ON SUGAR RATE INCREASE
Advantage to Democrats in Coming
Elections Only Fear Of
Regulars.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The Senate coalition" which held
control for months during the con-
sideration of the tariff bill, last night
was preparing for q desperate stand
to prevent much Of its past accomplish.
ment from being swept away before the
onslaught of q new combination seeking
increased duties on manufactured
products.
For the last three days the coalition
has been battered until 1t Is gaSping
for breath. Unless 1t can succeed in OBJ
tanning reconsideration of the vote by
which the Smoot amendment increasing
the tariff duty on sugar was adopted
last Wednesday its chances for any
thing but reversals and failure seem
particularly obscure.
In two major and several minor at
tacks the new combination routed the
coalition last week. The first major
victory came on the sugar duty, and the
second was the adoption Of q duty of
8 cents on cement. There are other
important clashes ahead on lumber, oil.
aluminium, pig iron, hides and leather
and other items.
Brothers Under the Skin.
The coalition seems to have over
played its hand finally. It could have
put the tariff bill through weeks ago,
but for one reason or another its mem
berS continued to talk. Its leaders be-
lieved that it could bring the duties
on manufactured articles below the
duties existing in the present law. And
in several instances amendments re-
ducing existing duties prevailed. IN
doubtedly this aroused the manufac-
turing interests throughout the coun-
try, with the result that there has been
a great drive from the Pacific Coast,
the Midwest, the South and the East
and North. And now 1t looks as though
the Senate and House are brothers I'M
der the skin after all.
Shortly before the close Of the spe.
cial session Of Congress last November
the so-called Republican new guard
offered to the Republican insurgents
IN the coalition proposal that tia bill
be expedited. with the understanding
that the agricultural increases be re-
tanned In the bill and the rnanufac-
turing schedules Of the existing law be
retained. But this did not suit some
OF the coalition leaders. They were
intent not only on obtaining the agri-
cultural increases, but they wanted to
cut the rates of the present law on
many manufactured products. So they
turned down the proposal Of the new
guard.
Senator Nye Of North Dakota, who
NOSSA AO4 VAC AAIAC06C0 SUGAR uuGY, HES
given formal notice of Q motion to re-
consider. the vote by which the Smoot
amendment was adopted on Wednes-
day. He was and is member Of the
old coalition, and although he had sup
ported the higher sugar duties he came
70 the conclusion that it would be bet
ter to sacrifice sugar than have the
coalition go down to defeat on many
otner items, Hence his motion to re-
consider. 1t viii take q shift Of I'VE
votes back to the coalition to bring
aoout reconsideration. Some of the
coalition leaders last night expressed
the belief that they would succeed. on
the other hand, members of, the new
combination declared that the motion
could not and would not prevail.
Some Fear Delay.
Senator Nye said he expected the mo-
tlon 10 come up for consideration when
me senate meets tomorrow. If 1t does
Sidered likely that a notion win be
MADE to lay the Nye motion on the
table. IT SO the matter will be acted
upon without further debate. Even if
senator Nye does not call I'D his motion
tor reconsideration, Senator Smoot has
Gne privilege Of doing so, and he may.
PROVIDED ne believes the. opportunity
1t is said that some of the Senator'S who
voted against the increased sugar dutV
would not now vote for q reconsidera-
CloN OF the vote taken on "Wednesday.
oeneVlng that to do so would be merely
q mockery OF the Senate, with q con.
StanG circle OF changes that might de-
lay the tariff bill indefinitely.
IL Is six months since the tariff bill
was taken up in the Senate, September
3. The country has been waiting for
the measure ever since Congress con.
veneo In special session last April. The
demands from all parts of the country
Tor action are growing. Leaders had
hoped the bill would be disposed of bv
last night. But the overthrow of the
coalition on Wednesday changed the
situation entirely. The new goal set
by the leaders is o final vote on the
bill before the present week closes but
this seems entirely improbable, for SEM
tors have reserved separate votes on
many important proposed amendments.
In the meantime the Senate Is GETTING
further than ever behind in its work.
with the appropriation bills piled no
and waiting for consideration.
Unless the coalition regains ifs old
strength, or great deal Of it, the Sem
ate Is likely to levy duty on lumber.
may even adopt duty on oil, and NAV
restore the old duties on aluminium,
The coalition leaders have been shout
ing "logrolling" and trading votes' in
criticism Of the new combination. But
that has not tended to sweeten the
tempers of those Senators who broke