Evening star., 1936-04-10

United States Tariff Commission.
Executive leadership. O'Brien, main
tanned in tariff making is thus a
Republican principle, commended in
repeated national platforms. and so
deeply seated in Republican tradi-
ton"
Mechanism Approved.
ITO this mechanism" the plank
continued, has recently been added,
at the instance of Secretary Hull, but
with the warmly expressed approval
of former Secretary Of State Stimson,
the grant of authority to the Execu-
tive to negotiate agreements with other
countries in regard to tariff and other
trade restrictions. This method, If
properly employed, has an advantage
which the flexible tariff law in itself
did not possess in giving us conces-
sion for our exports in exchange for
any that we yield to the foreigner.
I'VE believe the Republican party
should maintain and improve this
mechanism. consonant with the pc
in keeping with the spirit Of liberal
institutions. We believe that, offlcered
under Republican administration, by
practical men, thoroughly committed
to the Republican principles Of pro-
lection, the maintenance of American
standards of living and a deserved en-
phasis on the home market, the al
ready developed mechanism can be
made Of undeniable advantage in pro-
noting our economic progress. We
reach this conclusion because other
nations can only take our exports If
they are enabled to sell us something
of theirs"
Advocates Free List.
When Chairman O'Brien was asked
today in what way he would perfect
the existing reciprocal trade agree
ment law he said:
''I would put the free list into the
game of trade. Under the law as it
now stands the President may not
change the status of any article on
the free list. do not know why the
President should not be empowered to
put 10 per cent duty on an article
on the free list if he Is empowered to
raise the duty on a dutiable article
by 10 per cent"
The old "cost Of production" yard
measure, used In the administration
Of the flexible tariff law, O'Brien said,
did not of itself make 1t possible for
the United States to obtain any return
from foreign nations when reduction
of American tariffs was made. Under
the reciprocal trade agreements the
United States received a quid pro quo.
The Tariff Commission, Chairman
OBrien said, is making today just as
thorough investigations into the costs
of production, at home and abroad. to
be used by the President in arriving
at reciprocal trade agreements, as 1t
did under the old flexible tariff act.
Peek Opposes Agreements.
While Chairman O'Brien Is taking
up the cudgels for the reciprocal trade
agreement law, which must again
come before Congress for action in
1887, since the act Is limited to three
years of operation, George N. Peek,
former adviser Of President Roosevelt
on foreign trade, is out campaigning
against these agreements. Peek Is for
bilateral trade agreements, not giving
the benefit Of the most favored nation
clause as do the present reciprocal
trade agreements.
The reciprocal trade agreements are
under fire in New England States as
well as in the agriculture States OF
the West and Middle West. Gov. |
Curley Of Massachusetts,, Democrat, in |
a speech last night took rap at the |
trade agreements. Curley said he
would rather see the 100000 bales |
of cotton America sells Japan an
nually dumped into the Atlantic |
Ocean rather than be paid for by the |
admission of Japanese manufactured |
articles into this country, in competi- |
ton with American products.
Farmer Might Object.
"The American cotton farmers"
said O'Brien, might object strenu-
ously to having this cotton dumped |
into the Atlantic and not sold to |
Japan. They might wonder how long |
government would continue paying |
them to raise cotton to dump it into
the ocean,"
"O'Brien is opposed to the isola-
ZIONIST idea for America, with tariff
walls shutting out all foreign products.
Where would we be if we shut out
newsprint?" he asked. Sixty per cent
OF the newsprint used in this country
Is imported. We could produce all
the sugar we use, but it would cost
the housewives lot more money to
buy it."