The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-07-15

recommendations-that when the
recommendations reached congress
would be time enough to make q
fight. They knew they had won when
the test came In congress. By
shrewd log-rolling they had won
enough votes to give the islands the
independence act. So they thought
the same log-rolling would be sure
to work next time, which would be,
they thought, when the recommen-
dations are formally taken up In
congress.
Also, a considerable group OF
those interested actually knew moth
ing about the hearings. There was
too much going on in Washington
for the newspapers to get excited
about hearings on something which
would have no effect until 1916.
But several things have happened
to change all that. First, there is
quite movement to move forward
the independence date. The same
interests affected by the tariff hear
ings were concerned in that, and
this made any present hearings
much more significant.
Important Factor
But much more important is an
other factor. The prospect now is
that there is not going to be any re-
peal of the reciprocal trade treaty
powers of the President-that this
power will be extended indefinitely.
This will mean, if true, that if and
when the report of this joint COM
mittee comes up, Immediately after
independence is achieved or imme-
diately before, it may not be pos
sible to ignore its ideas simply by
having enough votes in congress to
prevent action ON Capitol Hill.
For it is certain that any recon-
mendations such a committee will
make would have great deal of eff
feet on the State department, and
naturally on the Philippine govern
ment. So that, under the reciprocal
treaty making power, it could easily
be that a lot of tariff duties on Phil
ippine products coming into the
United States might be sliced in
half-fifty per cent being the extent
of the change in any duty which can
be made by the State department
without further reference to con-
gress.
For instance, ii the duty on sugar
should be two cents a pound, under
the reciprocal treaty power the
State department could make
treaty with the Philippines which
would cut that duty to one cent, or
boost it to three cents.
Sugar is picked for an illustra-
ton chiefly because it is simple, and
was one of the big reasons why the
islands obtained the present prom
Use of independence. There are plen-
| ty of others. notably coconut oil.
Future of G. o. r.
Despite the harmony" meeting
| of Democratic senators and repre-
] sentatives with President Roosevelt
at the Jefferson Island club there
are growing signs of cleavage as
between what might be called the
old line Democrats and the New
| Dealers.
So much SO that certain irnpor-
tant Republicans, more interested
in economic principles than in party
organization, are quietly putting
forth a new thought with respect to
future G. O. P. activities.
In short, they would have the ma
tional Republican organization vol
unfairly disband, shut up shop, and
announce to the country that as a
national party the Republicans were
through.
While most of those talking about
it do not want their names used for
the present, it is said that Senator
Arthur II. Vandenberg of Michigan,
regarded by many as the outstand-
ing Republican in the country since
the last election, is not out of SYM
pathy with the idea.
The plan Is SO far advanced that
the effect on Individual senator's and
members of the house now bear
ing the Republican label has beer
considered. There are still many
districts which send Republicans tc
the house regardless Of Democratic
landslides and New Deal tendencies
AT least two states, Vermont anc
Maine, still promise to send Repub.
hcan senators to Washington
The idea would not be to deprive
the Republicans representing these
districts and states of their label
They could run as Republicans,
just as Senator Robert Nj. La Fol
lette runs as a Progressive" Of
Senator Henrik Shipstead runs as {
"Farmer-Laborite." These gentle
men seem to have little difficulty
getting elected, despite the fact tina
there is no real national organiza
ton of their parties to back them.
Might Be Help
representative Bertrand Fl. Smell
of New York comes down regularl,
from the Potsdam district of tn,
Empire state, no matter If Demo
cratic national candidates do carr,
the state by more than a million