The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-06-07
Leaving Something at Hoover's Door

Leaving Something at Hoover's Door
Congress Is finally at the point of leaving a more or
ess misbegotten offspring at the door of the white house.
After more than q year of tariff revision prostituted to
political conspiracy the two houses have come to the
stage Of compromise where their previous passage of the
Iawley-Smoot bill can be adjusted upon disputed pro-
'isions and rates and the bill submitted for executive ac-
ion.
The tariff bill is part Of the farm relief program un-
iertaken by the president. but since 1t was launched in
he house, its status in that respect has been widely d.
'erted, due to the coalition between lukewarm or even
hostile Republican elements in the senate combining
With the traditional enemy Of the tariff, the Southern
0emocrats-one bent on humiliating President Hoover,
he other seeking selfish partisan advantase-and to the
I'D guard Republican element Of the East typified in
senator Joseph r. Grundy. of Pennsylvania. Grundy
md his type did more than the coalition, in fact, to be-
loud the minds of the people on the tariff. He gave q
erformance that tended to place the tariff in the public
mind In the light of a system Of greed by taxation for
he benefit Of industrial selfishness, which in its essence
he tariff system of course is not. Fundamentally the
dea Of the tariff is to combine the production of revenue
With restriction of imports so that native manufactures
nay secure the home market to themselves and thus
sfford employment to American labor. Buying at home
$ essential If there also is to be selling at home.
Thus the original intent Of the bill, to afford relief to
agriculture, was based on an increase of rates on farm
produce which would keep out competitive produce from
sCler countries ana give the American FARMER q larger
percentage Of the greatest home market in the world,
While at the same time building that market up by keep
ng more consumers employed in the nations industries
through tariff giving them protection. These consider
atoms must not be forgotten in passing judgment on
the deformed Hawley-Smoot measure that Is to come out
OF congress just in time to be made the football Of poll
tics in the November congressional election.
Anyhow, the effect of criticised portions Of its duties
IS only Theoretical. In actual operation it will be more
clearly seen just what effect these assailed rates will
produce. Farmer and industrial worker will be inter-
ested in this respect. Actually some of the things that
will happen may not be due at all to the tariff, but more
to other economic factors. The East will be critical of
any increased cost of living that may follow. while the
farming West will hail any higher prices for its produce
with exactly the opposite feeling. Then the East will also
be critical of any adverse turn in our foreign trade, for
with protests from other countries against higher duties
on their staple products any loss Of foreign commerce is
bound to be laid at the door of the bill.
President Hoover has indicated that he will give these
phases intensive consideration before he acts on the bill.
There is hardly the speck Of a doubt as to what he will
do, and that Is approve the measure. It has been re-
lieved Of the most odious provisions which the senate
strove to put in so as to stultify Hoover, and those were
the debenture bounty plan for farm products and the
Of the flexible provision for executive modifica-
Ition Of duties in emergencies, such as when, congress not
being IN session, there could be no legislation. As the
provision has been reshaped finally, the president seems
even gamer by the attempt to embarrass him.
Palpably the excuse Of the senate coalition, that the
flexible provision transferred to the executive legislative
aver was false and for political confusion only. The
taking OF freight rates, for instance, transfers similar
uthority to the Interstate Commerce commission, but
mo hears the coalition senator's raving that therein is
executive Department.