Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-18
President Says Business
Demands Action by
Congress.
Continued From First Page.)


the House on the unemployment situa-
ton, replying to recent speech OF
Secretary of Labor James j. Davis. He
attacked the Republican administration
insisting that 1t had not been helpful
in the present situation.
Senator Harrison of Mississippi sent
the ball rolling in the Senate imme-
diately after that body met today
Speaking Sarcastically, he said that he
was sure the country responded SYM
pathetically when President Hoover left
Washington TO go to Florida and so re-
move himself from the snares and
chickering's Of the Republicans in the
Senate"
Some may think" said Senator Har-
rison. that Mr.. Hoover went because
he read that former President Coolidge
Is down there. We don't know whether
they met in Florida and we're not ad-
vised whether the President was ag-
gravated by the reception given Mr..
Coolidge all through the South. There
Is little wonder that the President
called q conference Of Republican lead
ers on mis- return here. But 1t Is strange
that the gentleman from Connecticut
Mr.. Tilson, speaking in the press, as
soon as the President arrived, should
say that the Senate Is all clogged up
and that the Republican leadership in
this body has failed. I do not know
whether he was aiming arrows at SEN
ator Watson or Senator McNary."
Cant BE Defended"
Senator Harrison said that he be-
heved Mr.. Tilson was right when he
criticized the failure of the Republi-
cans in the Senate to defend the nomi-
nation Of Chief Justice Hughes He
insisted, however, that there was no
ate leaders because the tariff bill was
still pending before the Senate.
1T was a bill that was condemned
from one end Of the country to the
other when it passed the House." said
Senator Harrison. 1T is peculiarly
strange that this House leader should
criticize the leaders of the Senate for
not defending what cannot be de-
Tended"
The Mississippi Senator defended the
action OF the Senate on the tariff bill
and insisted that the debate had been
one OF the finest discussions on the
tariff ever INDUCED in.
"Yet the Senate leadership is chas-
tised." continued Senator Harrison
What are you going 10 do, sit idly by
and say nothing2 Evidently the Presl-
dent was impressed by the statement
made by Representative TilSon. and
called you to the White House Did he
give you a spanking or a blessing
Won't you please take the country into
your confidence7 Did the President
agree with Mr.. Tilson or did he not2''
Watson Makes Reply.
conoto. Hyat.o,. ~nrIv;vr g. 49,. ytha,
of Senator Harrison, defended the
course Of the Republican leadership In
regard TO the Hughes nomination and
in regard to the tariff bill. He said that
there were two courses possible in the
consideration OF any nomination OF
measure which came before the Senate
One, he said. was TO make speeches, and
the other was to take action. Discussing
the tariff bill Senator Watson said that
he believed the Senate sometimes lost
sight OF the main purpose and argu-
ment for the tariff bill. The object, he
said, was the maintenance Of the Ameri-
can wage scale.
That Is all. and 1t Is as national as
the nag" said Senator Watson, declar-
ing that the tariff was not a local issue
He insisted that 1t was impossible to
predict now the final shape the tariff
bill would take. He pointed out that
when the Underwood-Simm tariff
bill. the last Democratic tariff bill. wa
under consideration IN the Senate the
Senate had placed 1900 amendments irl
the bill before 1t went to conference.
Senator Watson, in his speech, said
he could not conceive how the farmers
could be helped by pulling down In
duStries. Referring to the talk of idle
ness in this country at the present time
Senator Watson pointed out that S.
500, 900 900 worth Of foreign products
were brought into this country that
could have been produced at home and
could have given employment to more
men in this country. He cited this in
support OF his contention that the main
purpose OF a protective tariff is to pro-
tect American labor.
Senator Barley, Democrat, OF Ken
lucky asked Watson what would be.
come Of the billions of dollars worth
OF goods this country shipped abroad II
America stops the large part OF the
amount imported.
Should Do Own Work.
Senator Watson said that argument
was as old as the tariff subject itself
and added that the only way to estab.
lish real prosperity is for a nation tc
do its own work, produce its own goods
and thereby give employment to it,
people.
Senator Barley interrupted with tn,
statement that some Senators have beer
voting to retain the rates in the pres
ent tariff law, under which, he said
the contention has been made that the
country has been prosperous.
Senator Watson replied that as q
general proposition the country has
been prosperous during the last seven
years.
Senator Borah, Republican, Of Idaho
asked Watson II he was contending that
agriculture has been prosperous for the
last seven years.
Senator Watson recalled that he had
frequently stood In the Senate and
stated that agriculture has not been on
q level with industries and pointed out
that the tariff was means OF I'm
proving agriculture.
Senator Borah argued that when
agricultural rates are raised and in
creases also are made on articles the
farmer buys, then the farmer Is nc
better on than before.
Borah in Exchange.
During the exchange Senator Watson
pointed out that he voted for the equal.
ization fee proposal for farm relief
which, he said, the Senator from Idaho
had argued against.
Senator Borah replied At was moi
willing to make the farmer pay for
protection while the manufacturer was
given his protection free"
Senator Bratton, Democrat, Of New
Mexico wanted to know whether Wat
son wanted limited or general tariff
revision at the present time.
Il have explained In the past" Wat.
son answered. that favor applying g
yard stick TO the tariff question anC
adjusting rates wherever 1t appeared
necessary"
He added that Il there are rate