Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23
Adjusting the Tariff.


Senator Grundy of Pennsylvania Is
perturbed because it is reported that
President Hoover expects to get tariff
bill more to his liking out of the stand
taken by the Republican insurgent and
Democratic coalition than was the bill
when it passed the House or when 1t
was reported to the Senate from the
finance committee of that body. Yet
it has been clear for q long time that
the Senate coalition was playing the
Presidents game for him and making
possible a limited revision" of the
tariff with especial emphasis on the
benefits to be provided for the farmers.
If Mr. Grundy did not understand this
he must be dull, indeed.
The tariff bill, unless there is an
upset, will be written to a very large
extent in the conference between the
Senate and the House. Differences must
be adjusted and in some cases COM
promises must be accepted. When it
is completed, it is not likely that the bill
will give to the coalition of the Senate
all its demands nor Is at all likely that
it will give to the high protectionists all
that was contained in the House bill
or the bill as 1t came from the Senate
committee. 1t Is likely to be q better
bill because it will not carry all the
ideas of the extremists of either camp.
The President, when he called the
special session of Congress to meet last
April. to tackle farm relief and tariff
revision. made plea for those indus
tries which have suffered from foreign
competition as well as q plea for the
farmers. These industries should be
given more ample protection in the bill
when it is finally drafted than some
of the coalitionists have been willing
to grant. After all, American labor and
American industry need the safeguards
Of a protective tariff against an inflow
Of cheaper-made foreign goods Any bill
that discounts that principle viii not be
well received by the American people,
who have learned to rely on the protec-
tive tariff. But because that is so,
tariff revision need not necessarily
carry increases in duties, with prospec-
tive increases in prices to American
consumers, in manufactured products
whose producers already are protected
and are making reasonable returns on
their investments. 1t is the proposal
of such increases that arouses public
opinion. The idea that merely because
an industry demands Of Congress an
increase In tariff duties it should be
supported is carrying the protective
theory to a ridiculous and dangerous
degree. Mr.. Grundy, If he feels ag-
grieved because all industrial rates are
not to be increased in accordance with
demands, may as well get over that
feeling.
The Senate has made more rapid
progress with the tariff bill in recent
days. There are signs that eventually
that body will be ready to take q final
vote. Indeed, the widespread demand
which is coming from many quarters
for action on the measure is having
its effect. The opinion is general that
a tariff bill will be written and become
q law, despite predictions made in the
past that the two houses Of Congress
viii never agree on q bill. None of the
groups in Congress can afford to have q
tariff bill fail utterly because of their
attitude. In the end neither the Grundys
nor the Brookharts will receive all they
demand in this tariff bill. which is
probably q very good thing for the
country.