Evening star., 1940-03-26
Three 'Unpurged'
Senators 10 Support
Trade Pact Extension
George, Gillette and
Smith Soy They Will
Vote for Bill
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Roosevelt administration, en-
gagged in q close contest over ex-
tending its reciprocal trade program.
won the support today of Senators
whom it tried unsuccessfully to de-
feat in 1898.
Three of them-Senators Gillette,
Democrat. Of Iowa; George, Demo-
crat, of Georgia, and Smith. Demo-
crat, of South Carolina-told re-
porters that they would vote for
the bill.
The fourth, Senator Tydines,
Democrat, of Maryland, remained
uncommitted. but friends specu-
lated that he probably would be
found in the administration camp
when voting time came.
Politicians generally agree that
one reason why the Senators found
it easy to support the New Deal on
this issue was that Secretary Hull,
principal advocate Of the trade pro-
gram. took no part In the 1898 pri-
mary battles.
Would Recapture Markets.
Senator Gillette. whose opponent
at that time was Endorsed by Harry
l.. Hopkins. said he favored extern
sion Of the trade program as the
only way to recapture lost markets
for surplus farm products.
These markets were destroyed"
he said, through q process of rais-
ing tariff duties to the point where
foreign nations retaliated by i'm
posing quotas and other restrictions
The only way we can recapture
them is by negotiation and mutual
concessions"
Senator Gillette declared he did
not want to see the majority Of con-
cessions made by agriculture, but
that he was convinced agriculture
had been treated fairly In the agree
ments concluded thus far.
Senator George asserted that ex-
tension Of the program was essen
tial to help beat down world barriers
to trade. He said he did not advo-
cate entirely free trade, but favored
liberal" exchange of goods among
nations.
Agreements Called Constitutional,
From Senator Smith came q con-
tention that the trade agreements
were clearly constitutional under
the authority Of Congress over COM
merce. Congress delegates its au-
thority to the President, he said,
within limitations which made the
grant Of power far less than that
given the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
Republican and Democratic oppo-
nents of the extension bill, which
already has been approved by the
House, contend that the pacts are
treaties and that the Senate should
pass on each one.
The National Grange called for
an amendment requiring that future
pacts be approved by both Houses
of Congress.
This issue Of ratification is ex-
pected to1m througtodt the Sem
ate debate. which began yesterday
and which may last for 10 days to
two weeks.
In the House . battle was Develop
ing over. funds for the National
Labor Board. Chairman Smith,
Democrat, Of Virginia of the special
committee investigating the board
said he would try to block an ap-
preparation for the boards economic
division, headed by Davil Saposs.
Lewis Protests Cuts.
The Smith Committee and the
Dies Committee have questioned
Mr.. Saposs about some of his writ
ings, which had been described by
other witnesses as radical. Mr..
Saposs testified that he merely was
presenting the views Of others.
John L. Lewis. c. I. o. president,
wrote Democratic and House Re-
publican leaders that cuts for the
Labor Board and the Wage-Hour
Administration recommended by the