Imperial Valley press., 1930-06-17
I AR|Ff
BECOMES
THE LAW
Hoover Signs Document
In Presence of Party
Leaders.
EFFECTIVE TONIGHT
Will Be Center of Argu-
1 ment in Congressional
Election Contests.
BY PAUL r. MALLON +
United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, June 17.-Presi-
dent Hoover signed the Smoot-Haw-
ley tariff bill today, thereby making
it law. It's new and higher duties
on imports will go into effect at all
ports of entry at midnight tonight.
With short and simple ceremonies
the President fulfilled the requires
ments of the Constitution, proclaim
| ing law the tariff act which Con-
gress spent Is months in making.
| The House and Senate conferees
who whipped the measure into its
final form were present, led by the
co-authors of the bill, Chairman
Reed Smoot of the Senate finance
committee and Chairman Willis
Hawley of the House ways and
means committee.
Others who witnessed the signing
of the measure were Secretary of
Treasury Mellon, Majority Floor
Leader Watson of the Senate and
Francis X. A. Eble, commissioner
of customs. None of the Democratic
conferees who participated in the
final framing of the bill was pres
ent.
The Republican, conferees were
represented, in addition to the chair
men, by Senator Shortridge Of Cali
fornia, Representative Treadway of
Massachusetts and Bachrach of New
Jersey.
Extensive preparations have been
made to see that the duties become
swiftly effective. Instructions were
sent out several days ago by
the treasury department to all Gus.
toms inspectors. These instructions
set out the new rates which are to
be charged upon imported products.
Only the additional word that Mr..
! Hoover has now signed the bill
is needed to put the new rate struc-
ture into effect.
| The bill was signed at 1859 p. m.
| Six pens were used and distribut-
ed to those present.
Undersecretary of Treasury Ogden
l.. Mills was notified by telephone
of the signing, and Immediately put
into operation the necessary ma
| chinery for making the bill effec-
tive at midnight.
There was drama in the Presi-
dent action, despite the fact it
was already known that he would
sign the bill. All those present real
lied the President s action bresaged
a political battle. The opponents of
the administration had announced
their intention of carrying their
fight against the measure to the
polls in the coming congressional
elections.
Senate Aroused
To no legislation in the past
eight years has so much Importance
been attached. It's increased duties
on sugar, shoes, lumber, cement,
bricks and wool and hides, partic-
ularly, arouse the senate to the
most extensive political debate in
recent times. Its alleged influence
curtailing buying power was cited
in the senate yesterday by Demo-
| Gratis as one of the reasons for the
stock market decline.
just how great the increased
duties are is a subject of an intense
dispute as the provisions of the bill
itself. Mr.. Hoover indicated in q
statement Sunday night the increase
would be only about 2.S per cent.
Smoot's figures have indicated it
would be six per cent, while Demo-
Gratis and independent Republican
opponents of the bill say it will
reach IS or 20 per cent.
Smoot estimated its increase cost
| would amount to about $l07 ,OO0, 900
u year on the basis of 1928 imports,
while Democrats contend the cost
will be near billion dollars.
What effect the increases will
have on the prices of foodstuffs
and clothing also is matter of de-
bate.
The President is not expected to
remain silent in the face of his
opponents plan to make an issue Of
the tariff. 1t is said at the White
House he will issue series Of
statements shortly ON the business
condition of the country in an ef-
fort to refute the charges which
Democrats and Independent Repub-