Evening star., 1934-04-29
DEBATE ON TARIFF
SEEN IN SENATE
Democratic Leaders Admit
Bill Will Extend Session
of Congress.

LII WIN 6NSSttA SSSStSn
of Congress.
Continued From First Page.)
to be held with the President and
that they hope" he will yet agree to
some legislation looking definitely to
large silver purchases.
Counting on Republicans.
It is known. however. that the
President and the administration
leaders in Congress are counting noses
on this very question Of mandatory
silver legislation, and that they are
confident that this kind Of legisla-
ton can be blocked. They are count
ing, and justly so, on not a little sup
port from the Republican side Of the
Senate chamber. Many Of the G. O.
P. Senators are anything but silverites.
The Dies bill, a House bill dras-
tically amended by the Senate Com
mittee on Agriculture so as to provide
for large purchases of silver by the
Government, Is already on the Senate
calendar with a favorable report. II
an effort is made to call this bill up
for consideration. a showdown will
be had on the silver question imme-
diately. But whether this course is
followed or not, the silver bloc pro-
poses to have a vote on their measure.
They are likely to offer 1t as an
amendment to another bill, either to
the Glass bill authorizing the Fed
eral Reserve banks to loan money to
industry or the reciprocal tariff bill
Under the rules of the Senate. it is
possible to follow such course, and
to force vote on silver.
Seek Amendment on Tariff.
Because it is realized that the tariff
bill constitutes the main obstacle in
the way Of an early adjournment, ef-
forts are being made to work out
some kind Of an amendment which
will be acceptable to the administra-
ton and which at the same time will
lessen the opposition to the bill In
the Senate. Some of the leaders on
both sides of the chamber believe
that If an amendment providing for
a hearing, even a brief hearing, of the
representatives of those industries
which might be affected by any re-
ciprocal trade agreement entered into
by the President with a foreign ma
tion or nations could he adopted the
bottom would drop out Of lot of the
present opposition to the measure
The rub is whether the administra-
ton will agree to any such amend
ment to the tariff bill. 1t has been
strongly urged by the Secretary o1
Senate Finance Committee that moth
ing should be done which would lead
to delay in the making and putting
into effect Of reciprocal trade agree
ments. The President, under the
pending tariff bill, would be empow.
cred to lower or raise tariff duties by
so per cent without any check what
soever.
The prediction was made last night
that II an amendment could be writ
ten into the bill which would give an
opportunity for hearing or the filing
of protests by industries which would
be affected by any change in the
tariff, number of Republican Sem
ators would be found finally voting
for the reciprocity tariff bill. It was
said, too, that such an amendment
would make 1t a lot easier for several
of the Democratic Senator's to vote
for the measure.
May Run Session Into July.
Whether the President is willing
to take such an amendment in order
to speed up consideration of the tariff
bill remains to be seen. II there L
no amendment permitted, then the
probabilities are for a long and pro-
tracted debate. Indeed, it is said thai
the debate, in conjunction with the
consideration of other measures or
the program. will run the session fai
into July.
Senate Democratic leaders yester.
day counted enough votes to pass the
bill and predicted Republican effort.
to honeycomb 1t with amendments
would be defeated.
They said they found Just foul
Democrats definitely committed
against the bill and a few others who
were still uncertain how they woulc
vote. These will be partially offse
by two or three defections from the
Republican side.
The Democrats are to meet in con.
ference tomorrow night to considel
what shall be done about the bill. TIL,
conference has been called by Sen
ator Robinson Of Arkansas, the part,
leader.
Senator McNary of Oregon, the Re
publican leader of the Senate, intends
he says. to call a conference of th
Republican Senators to discuss tn
tariff bill and the plan OF camapigl
OF the G. O. P. The Republican con
ference will take place, however, afte
the Democrats have talked the bill
over in party caucus.
VIII Be Slow to Use Power.
This reciprocity tariff measure. b
the way, falls into the class of othe
so-called "permissive" legislation
passed by the Congress and grantin,
broad powers to the President. Tn
President may use these powers if h
deems 1t wise. And there are plent,
of Senators who predict he will b
extremely slow to use the powe
granted him to lower tariff dutie
which might affect disastrously Amer
ican industrieS-no matter how small
The President was granted wide pow
ers to deal with the currency of tn
Nation, powers to bring about tire
mendous imitation, either througl
paper money or silver. 1t is pointe,
out, however, that he has backed ava
from great imitation. And it is be
lieved he will proceed very carefully
as he has already said he would-witl
regard to the use of the propose,
power over tariff duties. Neverthe
less, he will be in position, when tn
tariff bill has been written into law
to make agreements with foreigl
countries which may aid greatly II
breaking down the barriers which no,
obstruct our foreign trade.
The Senate Finance Committee
Chairman Pat Harrison said yester
day. will not be ready to report tn