The Washington times., 1930-03-06
EN- ON SUGAR, SENATE COALITION FIGHTS OIL TARIFF
FACING DEFEAT
ON RATE FOR
LUMBER


Shaken by its first major de-
feat in six months Of tariff war
sare, the Democratic-InSurgent
coalition rallied in the Senate to-
day to battle against higher pro-
lection on oil, lumber. hides,
leather and building materials.
After ruling supreme in every
major clash on the pending tariff
bill, the coalition went down to
i defeat when the Senate approved
q $50, 100000 increase in sugar
tariffs by adopting new rates Of
$500 per hundred pounds on
Cuban imports and $3.50 against
world imports. Coalition leaders
charged sugar, oil and lumber
combination, by agreeing to trade
votes, brought about the increase
In sugar duties.
Easy for Lumber
The coalition forces we're con-
fident of keeping both oil and
? lumber on the free list, although
a repetition of the sugar trad
ing'' could easily result in placing
a tariff on lumber.
The oil leaders were said to be
planning on proposing a duty of
80 cents a barrel on crude oil
and a rate of 40 per cent ad-
valorem on gasoline. This would
amount to about "a cents a gal
Ion on gasoline. To write it into
the bill, the oil forces must Sc
cure seven new votes, since the
. Senate previously rejected the oil
tariff by a vote of 80 to 27.
The lumber people have an
easier task. They were reported
ready to offer a duty of $3.50
per thousand feet. They must
win three new votes to win the
protection. since the Senate voted
lumber on the free list by a vote
of 80 to "a.
Sugar ''Turn-AbOutS"
The "turn-abouts" on sugar yes.
terday were Ashurst and Hayden
of Arizona, socalled long staple
cotton" Senators; Dill and Jones
of Washington, lumber" Sena-
tors; Pine and Thomas Of Okla
homa, so-called "oil" Senators;
Trammell of Florida, a fruit"
Senator: Metcalf of Rhode Island.
so-called "Old Gl1ardSmaIl," and
Schall, of Minnesota, a farm
bloc" member. Only the votes
Of Schall and Metcalf occasioned
surprise.
After making a final decision
on the sugar tariff, the Senate
refused to increase, the new 5l2
cents a pound duty or" casein.
There had been some hope among
farm bloc Senators of securing an
Scent duty, but the Senate re-
jected the higher rate. Then it
plunged through a number Of
minor amendments, but it faced
several major battles within the
next few days.
Some of the climaxeS to the
six-month battle will be reached
when final action is taken on
oil, lumber, hides, leather, coal,
glass, cement, pig iron, tungsten,
aluminium, long-Staple cotton, so
dunn potassium, umbrellas, gloves,
jeWelry and automobiles.
Fight ON Censor
There. was little indication Of
any real sentiment for a change
in any Of the new rates on these
articles, aside from the oil and
lumber battles. The 7 cents q
pound duty on long-Staple cotton
appeared safe, but some Senators
demand another verdict on it.
There will be another row, too,
over the abandonment of Federal
censorship on imported literature.
With about so amendments to
be voted upon, all hope of pass
ing the bill this week appeared
disSipated. There was a good
chance, though, the bill will go
to conference next week.
Senators from Sugar-producing
States meanwhile were organic
ing for early action on the pro-
posal of Senators Halves D.) of
Missouri and Cutting CRO of New
Mexico to grant independence to
the Philippines. one of the world S
greatest sugar producing coun-
tries. The proposal is now be-
fore the Committee on Terri
tories and InSular Affairs.