Evening star., 1939-12-07
Wheeler Demands
Senate Approval
OF Trade Pacts
Says Present Act
Gives President.
Too Much Power
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

Senator Wheeler, Democrat, OF
Montana made known today he will
oppose re-enactment of the Re-
ciprocal Trade Act unless it Is
amended to require Senate ratif1ca-
ton of agreements, as in the case
Of treaties.
The Montana. Senator, who has
been mentioned as one of the con-
tenders for the presidential nomi-
nation next year, bases his posi-
ton on the ground that the present
act delegates to the Executive a
tariff making power which belongs
to Congress. In this respect his at
titude is somewhat different from
most opponents of the existing trade
program, who argue that it Injuries
agriculture.
Meanwhile, the Temporary Ma
tional Economic Committee was be-
ing told by Raymond Leslie Buell.,
former president Of the Foreign
Policy Association, that it would
be q catastrophe mistake for the
United States Government to aban-
don the Hull trade program now,
from both the short-term and the
long-term points of view.
Called Incompatible.
IF the United States abandons
the principles underlying the Hull
trade program for the quota and
barter system" Mr.. Buell. testified
yesterday, I'VE will tend to move
into the German type of economic
system. am opposed to this sys-
tenn because do not believe 1t can
lead to the efficient production and
distribution of goods, unless the
energies of the State are concen-
trated upon some emotional and
unified objective, such as rearn1a-
ment or war, and because feel
that the adoption of this system
is incompatible with political democ-
racy, private initiative and civil
liberties. There is grave danger
that the United States will none the
less move in the direction of State
capitalism both because of the
shortsighted demands of pressure
groups within the United States and
because of the international situa-
ton"
Senator Borah, Republican. of
Idaho, took issue with Mr.. Buell. on
the latter's reference to pressure
groups" defined by the witness as
special or sectional blocs which
maintain lobbyists and could pre-
vent the reelection of someone who
opposed them"
That's submitting it to the voters,
the way of democracy" the Senator
observed.
Mr.. Buell. agreed, but said that
often the public was not represented
and failed to understand the i'm
portance of such matters.
ut is probable that the State De-
partment is as well organized to
prevent it's side OF the argument as
the farmers" Senator Borah coun-
tered.
Remark Draws Laughs.
Mr.. Buell. said government propa-
ganda never is very effective"
Il wish could think So" Senator
Borah shot back as the small group
ut the hearing laughed.
The Senator said he knew of mo
pressure groups" opposing the trade
program except few farm organ
izations."
Senator Wheeler said he believes
I'VE made mistake in delegating
the power of Congress to the Ex-
ecutive to raise or lower tariff du-
ties, and I shall vote to return that
power to the Senate Of the United
States.
"The farmers of the country" he
continued, "have been told they
must curtail production in order to
bring up farm prices. You cannot
now go out and sell them the idea
that they ought to let imports of
farm products in.
There has been a great deal of
misinformation given the farmers
by Republican propagandists and
high tariff proponents, but the fact
Is the percentage of the American
market supplied by the American
farmer in 1898 was SO per cent,
while in 1929 it was 80 per cent"
Senator Cites Figures.
The Montana Senator then gave
figures on the percentage of the
American market supplied by Amer
lean farmers on certain specific
crops for 1898, compared with earlier
periods, as follows:
The corn market, 100 per cent in |