Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-10
HARRISON EXPECTS
HARD SUGAR FIGHT
Proposed Tariff Schedule As
sailed in Forum Talk as
Blow to Home.

''indefensible and selfish" Senator Pa,
Harrison of Mississippi declared last
night in a radio address broadcast
throughout the country that higher
sugar schedule would serve only to
fatten the profits of domestic producers
and place a greater burden upon the
American people.
Speaking through WMAL in the Ma
tional Radio Forum, arranged by The
Evening Star and sponsored by the Co.
lumbia BroadcaSting System, the out
spoken Mississippi Senator threw down
the gauntlet to proponents OF the pre-
posed sugar schedule in the pending
measure, warning that determined
battle would be waged to prevent It's
adoption.
Senator Harrison described the coali-
ton of Democrats and the progressive
group Of Republicans as a consumers
coalition" one to Safeguard the inter-
ests of the consumers and also to pro-
mote the welfare of American labor and
honest business"
Decrying the "bartering of votes" he
asserted that the coalition proposed arc
the Senate adopted an amendment de-
signed to eliminate this practice. He
said this amendment intends that here
after increases or decreases in tariff
rates shall be adopted by Congress only
after thorough investigation by COM
mission of experts, proceeding under
definite rules, TO ascertain the competi-
tive difference in production here and
abroad.
Vote Likely in February.
The full text of Senator Harrison
address is as follows:
The tariff bill has been before the
Senate for more than is weeks. In all
probability the discussion will be con-
cluded and a final vote taken IN the
Senate early in February. But the length
of time spent on the bill does not mean
that time has been wasted. Quite the
contrary: 1t means only that due atten-
ton has been given to many details and
problems connected with tariff legis-
iation-problems that affect the pros
perity of farm and factory, the we'll
being of American labor, and the con-
tentment of the American consumer.
There are literally thousands of articles
upon which tariff rates are fixed and
each one has to be given careful and
deliberate consideration, that equal jus
tice. as nearly as possible, may be ex-
tended to all.
Much has been written with reference
to the so-called coalition in the Senate,
the coalition that for the most part
controlled the rate fixing and assumed
in most instances the control OF the bill.
This coalition, composed of the Demo-
cratic organization and so-called Pro-
gressive group of the Republican party,
has been prompted by no desire to in
jure legitimate business. On the other
hand, it has co-operated to remove
those distractions, which, in the
form of excessive tariff rates, close the
channels of our commerce and stop the
easy flow of our surplus goods and
products to the markets of the world.
Truly. it might be called the consumers
coalition coalition to safeguard the
interests of the consumers, and also to
promote the welfare of American labor
and honest business. II proof is needed
that such is the purpose of our action 1t
Is only necessary to point out that we
have taken as the basis of our action
the rates of the present tariff law,
which at the time of its passage re-
ceived the benediction of business and
satisfied the ayaricious appetites of the
greediest special interests. So up until
this good hour the tariff battle has
waged over increases rather than over
reductions in the present law. And 1t Is
only in those instances where the pro-
posed increases were constituencies and
unjustified by the facts that We have
opposed and accomplished their defeat.
Those careless critics who from rostrum
and through the press have found fault
tried to fashion the tariff law based
upon the difference in the competitive
conditions here and abroad and to some
extent equalize the advantages Of agri-
culture with that Of other industries,
have either deliberately attempted to
deceive the public or were grossly unin-
formed as to the facts. We have looked
at the SWOLLEN profits of pampered and
favored pets of tariff legislation and to
10 afE 1in ay,I
under which those industries operated,
as the best and surest guide for our
course of action.
Inquiry and Discussion.
The fixing of rates in a tariff law
naturally requires intensive investiga-
ton and proyoaes long discussions One
OF the worst influences in the framing
OF tariff laws has been the manner in
which the rates too frequently have
been fixed. The old method of trading
and bartering of votes is well known
BY 1t rates were increased upon products
In which the constituents of partic-
ular Representative or Senator might
be interested, Independent of the justi-
fication for such increases and without
consideration of their effects upon the
whole industry or upon the consuming
public. This practice has been a stencil
in our history of tariff legislation. The
coalition proposed and the Senate
adopted an amendment designed to
eliminate this character of tariff making
In effect, the legislative flexible tariff
provision, as adopted by the Senate, in
tends that hereafter increases or de-
creases in tariff rates shall only be adopt
ed by the Congress after a thorough
investigation by a commission of ex-
perts, proceeding under definite rules
to ascertain the competitive difference
in production here and abroad. One OF
the main reasons why there has been
so much disSension and difference OF
opinion between members of the tariff
commission in the past in arriving al
the competitive difference here anc
abroad has been the lack Of specific in.
structions to the tariff commission upor
which their conclusions as to competi.
tive. conditions might be ascertained
II this amendment should be adopted
little excuse can be found in the future
for difference and dissension because
we will have given them, in this Senate
amendment, a yardstick which they
must apply in measuring and ascertain
ing those differences in competitive con
ditions That amendment intend!
further to provide that when thu
tariff commission shall report to Con.
gress a change in duty upon the par
ticular product or article investigated
IL snail be determined py the congress!
free from the consideration of the tariff
on other articles. Such an amendment
II adopted, will put stop to loSrolling
insure prompt consideration upon the
part of the Congress and prevent in the
future any one man from increasing
taxes upon the American people b.
ignoring the honest recommendation
Of a tariff commission.
Essentially of Facts.
Uninteresting to the public as is tn:
tariff question generally, I shall TT!
tonight TO sweeten it by taking sugar
as my subject. 1 want to take you