Evening star., 1933-02-09
DEFEAT OF TARIFF
THIS SESSION SEEN
Democratic Caucus 161 to 4
Against CroWther Bill,
Up Monday.

BY the Associated Press.
Defeat of tariff legislation designed
to Offset deprecated foreign currencies
was indicated today by the solid stand
Of the Democratic House majority
against enactment of such measures this
session.
This opposition was registered last
night at a party caucus of the Demo-
Gratis. In which they voted, 161 to 4, to
throw their weight aganE the Repub-
Hcan-supported Crowther bill, which
comes before the House Monday
The tariff question came to the front
In Congress again at the same time as
congressional comment indicated plain
ly that Great Britain would have to
offer something better in the way of a
war debts settlement plan than just
a 10-cents-on-the-dol proposition.
The least that is expected by the
leaders Is some very definite trade con-
cessionS that will benefit American in
dustry and agriculture.
Most of those who have commented
on the British plan believe that nation
is merely feeling the way before the
March discussion with President-elect
Roosevelt and point to the fact that
so far Great Britain has been moving
counter to all the public expressions of
the incoming Chief Executive.
Test for Both Parties.
Both the Democratic and Republican
leadership will be put to a test in the
House vote Monday on the tariff ques-
tlonS and with several of each party
indicating they might quit party ranks,
the result of the balloting on the
Crowther bill is expected to be close.
The Democratic position is that the
question is too important to be acted
on now and leaders want to leave the
way open for Mr.. Roosevelt
Having previously pledged themselves
to the Crowther bill, which would pro-
vide for automatic tariff increases in
import duties against countries off the
gold standard, the Republicans have
forced vote on it through a petition
to discharge the Ways and Means Com
mittee from considering it.
President Hoover yesterday was rep
resented as feeling that unless steps
are taken to slow down imports there
will be continuous disturbance" in
American economy. From Secretary of
Commerce Chaplin came a declaration
that imports from countries off the gold
standard had created very serious
CAiSi SC1iSy, WluCll III IIle case Oh some
commodities calls for immediate action.
Democrats Are Blamed.
House Democratic leaders, mean
while, were charged by Representative
Smell Of New York, the Republican
leader, with having postponed recovery
from the depression by binding their
membership to vote against the Crow
ther bill.
Discussing with newspapermen the
agreement of the Democratic caucus
last night, Smell said that If action were
not taken to meet the deprecated cur
rencies Of foreign countries, domestic
markets would be flooded with cheaply
made foreign goods.
I am not surprised at the action of
the Democratic leaders?" Smell said.
OF course, they can control their mem
bers by caucus, but it is evident that
they did not dare to go into the House
for an open vote on the issue Monday,
or they would not have resorted to the
drastic caucus rule
Caucus Debate Lengthy.
The decision of the Democratic
caucus was reached after an hour-and-
a-half debate behind closed doors. 1t
required two-thirds majority of those
present to bind the membership of 200.
Only those who have made previous
commitments to their constituents can
be excused.
The four who voted in favor of the
legislation are Representatives Connery
of Massachusetts,, Martin of Oregon,
Reilly Of Wisconsin and Hill of Wash
ington.
Representative Rainey of Illinois, the
Democratic leader, announced that the
Democratic position was that tariff was
too important question to be acted
upon at this session and that further
consideration Of the problem was
needed. He expressed confidence that
the Democrats would adhere to the
caucus rule.
In his statement Secretary Chaplin
said imports from countries off the gold
standard had created very serious
emergency" which in the case of some
commodities calls for immediate and
drastic action.
The Secretary declined to name the
commodities. saying the question was
now before Congress and he did not feel
he should inject any argument into the
situation. He said a survey made by
the Commerce Department showed that
while the total volume of imports de-
clined, 232 commodities were imported
in greater volume in 1882 than during
the previous year.
OF the growing imports, he said, 157
were dutiable and constituted Is per
cent. by value, of the dutiable imports
for the year.