Evening star., 1933-02-08
Sees Danger in Increase of
Goods From Countries of
Deprecated CurrencieS.
DEMOCRATS TO CAUCUS
AGAINST TARIFF ACTION
Subcommittee of House Ways and
Means Body Disapproves Bills
to Offset Lower Money.
Bv the Associated press

BY the Associated Press.
President Hoover was represented in
the highest administration circles today
as feeling that unless steps are taken
by the United States to slow down i'm
ports from countries with deprecated
currencies a continuous disturbance
will be noticed in American economic
life.
In quarters fully acquainted with his
views, the President was described as
feeling the present volume OF imports is
considerably greater than can be shown
by available statistics, because actual
imports have increased where this would
not be shown by dollar figures.
Report Is Asked.
The President has asked Secretary OF
Commerce Chaplin to prepare report
upon the effect of imports from coun-
tries of deprecated currency probably
to be made public at the Commerce De-
partment later in the day.
1t can be shown in actual figures.
Mr.. Hoover believes that there has been
an increase in imports in $50 lines of
goods from countries judged by him to
need monetary stabilization.
The views attributed to the President
apparently were in conflict with those
laid before Congress by the Republican
chairman of the Tariff Commission,
Robert L. O'Brien, and some Treasury
officials
They argued against any legislation to
increase tariffs except bills to give the
Tariff Commission more liberty to scale
up rates upon investigation. Further
more, several Republican witnesses con-
tended the increase in imports was not
as great as sometimes represented.
Democrats to Caucus.
Disclosure of the Presidents views
today was timed just before the Demo-
Gratis of the House were to meet in
caucus to bind themselves against con-
siderlng any tariff legislation this ses-
sion
The Ways and Means Committee has
concluded hearings on bills to offset
deprecated currency effects and a sub
committee has disapproved them. The
Republican minority of the House has
pledged itself to seek vote and by
petition, has compelled vote February
13 on taking up the Crowther bill for
automatic tariff increases. The Demo-
Gratis want to vote this down, to head
of the entire question this session.
The Crowther bill was especially crit
1cized by Tariff Commission and Treas
ury witnesses.
The House Ways and Means Com
mittee met at the call of Chairman
Collier late yesterday and adopted re-
ports of subcommittee that did not
recommend passage of any of the sew
eral bills on deprecated currency. Col
lier said "the majority of the commit
tee decided to go along with the deci-
sion of the caucus
Senate Vote Assured.
Meanwhile. a Senate vote on a SINH
lar proposal was perhaps assured when
Senator Hatfield, Republican of West
Virginia, introduced an amendment to
this end eS rider on the bill to extend
the Federal gasoline tax another year.
The amendment, which leaders say
probably will be defeated If it reaches
a vote, would add to present tariffs a
tax equal to the difference between the
invoice value of the foreign article and
its value on October l, 1881.
The proposal would not apply to i'm
ports Of tea, coffee, tin, rubber and
fruits and manufactured spices not
produced in the United States
Led by Representative Smell Of New
York, minority chieftain, the Re-
publicans had already pledged them
selves for the legislation at this session
and the whole subject has been some
what of a political controversy for
weeks
Having secured 145 names to petit
tion the bill out of the Ways and Means
Committee, the Republicans are in a
position to force a vote on the issue
Monday. With some Democrats i'll ia
vor of the legislation, Democratic chief
tains have been placed in a difficult
position
Speaker Garner maintains the sub
ject is too important to be considered"
during the remaining weeks of the short
session and that in view of the testi-
mony of administration representatives
it should not be passed.
In statement, Senator Hatfield said
Continued on Page 2, Column s.