The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-03-07

(Bv STAFF WRITER)

ed ortorical fireworks when the
bill to authorize the President to
continue negotiating reciprocal
trade agreements was debated
in the House of Representatives
A million or more words were
spoken by friends and opponents
of the measure, in order that the
arguments for and against could
be printed in the Congressional
Record, but except for the mem
bers who happened to be dong
the talking at any particular mo-
ment. there were practically no
listeners, either on the floor OF
the House or in the galleries. IL
was a foregone conclusion that
the Presidents powers would be
continued by a strict party Vote'
and that is what happened.
This is one of the few issues
coming before Congress on which
there is no division between New
Dealers and old-fashioned Con-
servative Democrats. The tariff
has for more than seventy years
been the traditional major issue
dividing the Republican Party
from the Democratic Party.
In the days before the World
War, when the United States was
money to all the world, the high
tariff policy generally prevailed
Since the World War, when every
nation began to owe us money
most of which has never been re-
paid, the idea has been grow
ing among politicians that
America ought to buy more COM
modities from foreigners to en-
able them to pay something on
account of what they owe us.
AS this idea is in line with the
traditional Democratic policy OF
low tariffs, the old-line Demo
Gratis have not had any trouble
in accepting the Presidents pro
gram, which makes it easier 1or
other nations to sell their pro-
ducts in this country and at the
same time removes some OF the
obstacles to their purchases OF
our products.
Enacted in 1897.
The law authorizing the nego-
tiation of reciprocal trade agree,
ments was enacted in 1887 ana
the time within which the ex-
pertinent could be tried was
limited to three years. Therefore
if the authority granted to the
executive is not renewed at THIS
session of Congress, no more sucn
agreements can be effected.
The Administration has been
very anxious to have its authorl-
tv continued, not only as a mat
ter of party principle but because
negotiations with several nations
have been suspended partly be-
cause of the uncertainty as TO
whether they can be carried
through in the absence OF renew
ed Congressional sanction.
The action of the House is not
of course, final: The Senate has
still to debate and vote upon the
reciprocal trade agreement pro-
gram. There is likely to be much
more heated debate in the Senate
and a stronger show OF opposl-
ton, for two reasons.
There is the Senate's Jealousy
of any infringement upon its pre-
negatives, for one thing. A con-
siderable number of Senators OF
both parties have expressed the
belief that these trade agree
ments, negotiated by the Secre-
tary of State, are actually moth
ing more or less than treaties
with foreign governments. The
Constitution provides that the
Executive must obtain the advice
and consent of the Senate to
make a binding treaty with any
other nation. Therefore the
Senate wants to have a finger In
these trade agreements, and
seems quite likely to get it.
Won't Miss A Chance
Another reason why fireworks
may be expected when the mea-
sure comes up in the Senate is
the fact that two Senators, Taft
and Vandenberg, are active can
didates for the Republican presi-
Dental nomination. It is harly to
be expected that either of them,
or any one of the other Republi-
can Senators, is going to miss a
chance to go on record in opposi-
ton to a tariff program which
departs from the traditional
policy of their party.
The chances are, however, that
the Democratic majority in the
Senate will follow the example
of the lower House and give Sec
rotary Hull what he wants. This
is the more likely because of the
high esteem in which Mr.. Hull is