Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-08
TARIFF PASSAGE
THIS WEEK SEEN
Combination of Conference
Reports Thought to Assure
| Favorable Action.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


Final action on the tariff bill in the
Senate before the close Of this week
was predicted by leaders on both sides
of the chamber last night. Prediction
was made by both supporters and OPP
ponents of the bill that 1t would pass.
Favorable action in the House, which
must come on the conference report as
well as In the Senate, is confidently
expected.
Eleventh hour shifts on the tariff bill
by Senators have been rumored, but
even so, there is an underlying feeling
of confidence that there will be at least
20 Senator'S either voting for or paired
for the adoption of the conference re-
port when it comes back to the Senate.
When Senator Smoot, chairman Of
the finance committee and in charge Of
consent on Friday to have the two
separate conference reports which
have been before the Senate, one deal
ing with rates and the other In the
main with the administrative features
Of the bill, combined so that there
would be but a single vote, a step was
taken which shortened the fight over
the bill, and also, it is is said, assured
Its passage.
It might have been possible for the
opponents of the bill to send back to
conference the conference report which
deals with the flexible provisions of the
.bill-So-called administrative features
had there been separate vote on that
report. But there Is too much pressure
for the final passage of the bill, it Is
believed, to make it possible to reject
h. kfNA NNV-f
comes before the Senate.
May Bring Early Vote.
An effort may be made to obtain
unanimous consent to vote in the Sem
ate on the conference report on Thurs
day, and certainly by Friday. The lead
ers Of all camps are said to be willing
to reach such an agreement.
On the Democratic side there is de-
sire on the part Of some Senators to
have the bill passed because 1t contains
important protective features for indus
tries in their States. It is also true
that some of the Democratic Senators
are anxious that the bill shall 60
through and become @ law so that 1t
may be made an issue in the coming
congressional campaign. With these in
duences fighting for 1t, it is considered
likely that q SUFFICIENT number of votes
viii be mustered to put it through, even
though the margin may be only cou-
pie Of votes.
Progressive Republicans have insist
ed they viii vote against the bill If it
comes to them from conference with
out the Senate amendment killing the
flexible provision by which the Presi-
dent has authority, within certain
limitations, to raise or lower tariff
duties in accordance with recommends
tons Of the United States Tariff Com
mission. That the conference report
viii omit that Senate amendment from
the bill is beyond question. Whether all
Of the progressive group which formed
the coalition with the Democrats in the
early days Of tariff consideration in this
Congress remains to be seen. Others
have said they will oppose the bill If
the conference report contains duty on
lumber.
Reed Uncertain.
The Pennsylvania Senators, Reed and
Grundy, are reported to be In doubt
over how they viii vote on the measure
finally. Senator Reed Is studying the
measure over the week end and Is ex-
pected to declare his position In the
Senate before the vote Is taken. Sup
poTters Of the bill nevertheless insist
that Reed viii vote for passage. Sena-
bill q utterly inadequate In the measure
Of protection 1t gives to American and
particularly Pennsylvania industries,
has withheld final decision, too, as to
what he viii do.
There is . growing impression he win
vote for the bill or, If he Is absent, be
paired for It. Should one or both Of
the Pennsylvania Senators vote against
the tariff bill, 1t might necessitate an
other counting Of votes. But the bill
seems meant" to pass at this stage of
the game, with the possibility of shift
ing vote or two to the affirmative side
from the opposition, If it becomes neces-
6ary to do so. As one opposition Sena-
tor put 1t last night, when the agree
Ment was entered into to bring q single
conference report before the Senate, the
probability of defeat of the bill seemed
to have disappeared.
The conferees are to meet again to-
naorrow for a final adjustment of the
watch schedule which was sent back to
conference, along with others, on o
point of order. Senator Smoot hopes
10 be able to report the bill again to the
Senate by tomorrow afternoon, and get
the debate on it underway without fur
ther delay.