Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-22
LOG-ROLL|NG SEEN
IN TARIFF BATTLE.
Writer Points to Democratic
Quest for Levy on Oil in Dis
Cussing World Conditions.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

The proposals coming from European
statesmen at Geneva for rennedytng
worldwide depression are observed in
Washington with sympathetic interest.
Some of the European proposals obvi-
ously are intended for American eyes.
One such is the statement Of Foreign
Minister Henderson of Great Britain,
which Endorsed President Hoover's en-
phasis upon cost of armament as an
important factor in world depression.
In the same speech, ME- Henderson
mentioned high tariff as another cause.
From the point of view of the United
States, much depends on whether the
juxtaposition was meant to suggest that
remedy of the one fault Is conditional
upon simultaneous remedy of the other.
Everything that has been said in Wash
ington about reduction of armament as
8 means of economic relief has gone
on the assumption that this is one rem
edy which can stand alone without ref
erence to other economic faults.
'Tf' Proposals Made.
It has been felt here that one of the
impediments to several lines Of human
itarian effort since the war has been
the eff or contingent type of proposals.
International conferences and diplo-
matte and unofficial exchanges are
Cluttered with suggestions proposing
that, for example war debts can be
cheerfully paid ''if" tariffs are reduced
or war debts should be reduced ii
German reparations are correspond
ingly reduced, or war debts should be
reduced eff armament Is reduced, or
an international conference on silver
can be held "if'' war debts and repara-
tions are reduced in proportion TO
change in the purchasing price OF the
gold dollar, or Russia will stop Its
dumping practice 'if' the other nations
subscribe to a pact.
This type of proposal, with one rem
edy conditional upon another, consul
tutes an endless chain. Persons who
have observed repeated failure OF at
tenpts to break the chain have come
to think the better method is TO act
separately upon some one link in the
vicious chain of economic faults The
Government at Washington has several
times acted upon the presumption that
reduction of armament is one remedy
that offers opportunity for considera-
ton without being confused with other
economic remedies.
Other Nations Hesitant.
AS respects Foreign Minister Hender-
sons suggestion about the tariff, there
are many nations, notably France and
Italy. who are even less willing than
the United States to surrender their
tariffs on industries which they deem
essential.
In this connection America faces a
striking situation as respects the tariff.
There is in all sections of the country
a considerable volume of newspaper
and other opinion which strongly crii-
cizes our tariff as it now exists. Expec-
tation of reduction by Congress looks
for action chiefly to the Democratic
party, allied with Western Progressive
Republicans.
How much weight to give this expec-
tation can be estimated by looking
some concrete facts in the face. There
will be made in the next session of
Congress a drive for tariff on oil.
This is a wholly new extension Of the
tariff idea, for there has never before
been a tariff on oil. Persons to whom
the suggestion is made for the first
time tend to smile at it. Nevertheless.
the drive for a tariff on oil is being
organized with thoroughness and in
genuity, and will have momentum such
as no drive for a tariff on any COM
modify has ever had before.
The sources of this drive and the
sponsorship of 1t in Congress will pro-
coed mainly and almost exclusively Of
Democrats from Texas and Oklahoma
and Progressive Republicans from
Kansas. That their earnestness for
their own cause will permit them to be
tolerant toward the tariff on other COM
modities-in other words to trade and
'1og roll"-goes almost without saying.
Copper Drive Planned.
In the same way, there is now being
organized a similar drive for a tariff
on copper. This. like the proposal of
a tariff on OIL is wholly new extern
sion Of the tariff idea.
One motive for the drive in behalf
Of copper is the apparently probable
success of the campaign for oil. The
proposal for copper. ike the one for
oil, will proceed largely from and be
sponsored in Congress by Democrats
and Progressive Republicans from GER
tain Western and Southwestern States
having copper mines in which the cost
OF production is high.
The net of these and other realities
in the tariff situation raises more than
a little question whether the Democrats,
as whole, viii want to or try to do
anything in the nature Of general tariff
reduction.
The sparrow was not known in the