Evening star., 1934-03-25

opposed to using" the commission.
Nevertheless. he firmly believes in
lowering duties when such action Is
feasible. He believes in reciprocity.
Wants Similar Powers.
Seeing the rulers of other nations
empowered to effect quick agreements,
he felt the United States could get
nowhere during his administration
unless he were empowered to act
Just as expeditiously. Secretary of
State Hull, who not only has been
lifelong exponent of lower tariffs,
but who. as the premier of the Roose-
welt cabinet, promised the recent
Montevideo Conference that there soon
would be trading agreements. has been
prodding him.
And, Furthermore, he made unquali-
fed promises during his campaign for
the presidency in 1882. He feels that
his party could not enter the con-
gressional elections next Fall without
fulfilling those promises.
But there is a further reason more
pertinent than all the others. 1t Is
that he wants to complete the cycle
of legislation with which to remold
this country during his incumbencyi
Even though the legislation which
he now asks may be relatively Incl
dental, in purely administrative
sense, it is an integral part of the
whole. Remember that the act OF
year ago, creating the N. r. A.. con-
tanned a vitality important tariff Sec
ton. That section Is still operative.
1t not only gives the President the
authority to invoke embargoes If and
when necessary, but it permits him
to transfer articles from the free to
the dutiable lists, or vice versa.
1t Is this free list, which heretofore
no President nor any tariff commits
sion could touch, Congress alone be-
ing empowered to change it, that Mr.
Roosevelt may use to make the most
notable changes. The articles on this
list offer outstanding chances for
agreements with other countries.
Brazil Coffee an Example.
One of his conhdants made an IL
lustration that is pertinent in this
connection. The United States i'm
ports large quantities of coffee from
Brazil. The President, II he were so
inclined, could advise Brazil that un-
less her purchases Of American-made
automobiles, for example, were in
creased we would feel compelled to
put duty of per cent on her coffee.
That most certainly would start some
thing. Goodness knows what it would
lead to-
And the President proposes to pro-
ceed along the whole tariff front If
the Congress gives him the authority
he asks. In such an event he would
be fortified by powers that none of
his predecessors ever dreamed of hav-
ing. He could, if he wished, entirely
remake the tariff laws of this coun-
try, with no other individual having
anything to say about 1t. 1t is this
incontrovertible fact that will be en-
phasized again and again while Con-
gress debates the problem.
The administrations contention
throughout the struggle will be that
Mr.. Roosevelt contemplates no moves
that will endanger industry or the
job Of the American workingman who
is employed. 1t will be insisted that
his dominant desire is to put new life
into industry and to put the unem-
ployed back to work
No one need tell him in advance
that il he acts unwisely, even If his
plan fails to work, he will bring crit
icism down on his head and precipi-
tate antagonisms at the very moment
that he will be striving Simultaneous
ly to bring about the election OF a
Congress responsive to his wishes dur
ing the last half of his term.
Mr.. Roosevelt has no stomach for
an ordinary tariff battle. let alone one
that may make the Payne Aldrich
controversy Of some two decades ago
pale into insignificance.
Knowing full well that he is play
ing with dynamite, his inclination will
be toward caution. even though he is
naturally audacious. He will strive to
play down the fight in Congress dur
ing the discussion of whether the
power should be given to him. If it
is granted he proposes to make only
such initial moves as will seem to be
sure-fire successes.
Despite any and all assurances there
are grave aprehensions among both
business men and the Presidents own
confldants. 1t is no secret that infiu-
ential Democratic leaders have been
opposed to projecting the issue on the
eve Of the congressional campaign.
They know that whenever either party
has broached this subject in an elec-
ton year it has suffered as a result.
1t is true that the method in the past
has been one of omnibus tariff revi-
sion by Congress. This is not at all
what Mr. Roosevelt is proposing. But
some of his party colleagues fear that
any sort of tariff tinkering during the
coming Summer will have the same
dire effect on the Democratic prospects
at the polls.
However, the die seems to be cast.
Regardless of whether Congress re-
spends to the Presidents wishes or ad-
ministers the most serious major de-
feat ne has experienced since assum-
ing Office, the tariff will be a domi-
nant issue before the country for
months to come There can be no
doubt that Mr. Roosevelt, If given the
authority, would strive to bring i'm
provement in our world trade, as he
sees the light. The unanswerable
question today is whether Congress
will see eye to eye with him.