Evening star., 1940-02-28

sSNo SHkHftUotSCU ftC(U JOF "Os
gram as part OF foundation for
any 1Dorld peace.
By the Associated Press.
Senator OMahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming declared today that the
Administrators present system OF
Negotiating trade agreements "of-
Tended" five provisions of the Con-
stitution. He proposed that each
agreement hereafter be subject to
Senate ratification.
Appearing before the Senate
Finance Committee, Senator O'Ma-
honey argued that House-approved
legislation to continue the system
tor three years was likewise uncon-
stitutional since 1: would not require
either approval by both branches OF
Congress, as does a law, nor ratifica-
ton by the Senate alone, as does a
treaty.
The legislation should be changed,
he said, to restore to Congress pow
ers which he claimed properly be-
longed there Il believe that to save
democracy" he said, I'VE have got
to have the courage to be demo-
cratic"
Five Provisions "Offended."
Senator O'Mahoney said these
were the five offended" provisions
of the Constitution:
l. That treaties be ratified by a
two-thirds vote of the Senate. (Ad-
ministration officials claim the trade
pacts are not treaties. Senator
OMahoney claims they are, and
Senator Vandenberg, Republican
of Michigan, cited as an example to
the committee that a reciprocal
agreement with Colombia replaced
q previous commercial treaty with
that country
2. That all legislative power be
vested in Congress.
3. That all tax measures originate
In the House.
4. That customs duties enacted
by Congress not be modified by ex-
ecutive action.
S. That States have equality OF
rights In the Senate.
Senator OMahoney asserted that
In some way the agreements, in
volving tariff reductions, import
quotas and the like and being free
of congressional review were con-
trary to all those provisions.
Hull Stand Recalled.
Senator Vandenberg recalled a
speech by Secretary of State Hull,
when the latter was a member of
the House, describing the Repub-
lican-Sponsored elastic" tariff as
CONTRARY to the plainest and most
fundamental provisions of the Con-
stitution."
Chairman Harrison noted, how
ever, that Mr.. Hull had said that he
had changed his mind after the Su-
preme Court upheld the elastic tar
If law.
Meanwhile, Senator Bridges, Re-
publican, of New Hampshire today
sought to rally Republican opposi-
ton to the Hull trade program, pre-
dieting that the G. o. P. could carry
the West in the November election
If it fought renewal of the act.
Senator Bridges, a candidate for
the Republican presidential nomi-
nation, said 9,500-mile trip
through 10 Western States had con-
vinced him that the effect of the
trade program on agriculture would
be the chief political issue there.
Reprisal Powers Available.
The Finance Committee heard
yesterday from Secretary of Agri-
culture Wallace and Assistant Sec
retary of State Henry F. Grady that
the administration has ample
powers to invoke economic reprisals
against discriminatory trade ar
rangements adopted by nations at
war.
However. they did not agree with
some Senators that sufficient dis
elimination existed at present to
warrant reprisals, particularly in
view of the danger of such action
forcing continued bitterness in trade
relations after the war.
Secretary Wallace frowned on a
proposed market basket" plan of
forcing nations at war to buy farm
products here along with their pur-
chases of munitions.
He told the committee that an
effort to compel Great Britain to
buy tobacco here, for instance, un-
doubtedly would result ''in very deep
resentment against us and deep dis
trust of U.s." He added that feel
ings of that sort usually reflect
themselves in an economic way"
Both Secretary Wallace and Mr.
Grady urged continuance of the
trade agreements program to main
tain this country's foreign commerce
during and after the war and as a
foundation for liberal world-trade
policies considered essential to any