Evening star., 1940-04-09
The Political Mill
Senator Horrison Comes Into Own Again
In Pushing Trade Agreements Act Through Senoe

end of the stick. There was even
talk of letting the law die. believing
that If the Democrats were success
full at the polls in November 1t would
be possible to revive the act in the
next Congress.
Wanted to Avoid Fight.
1t was argued that by such a
course-letting the measure die-it
would be possible to avoid bitter
intraparty fight in the House and
more particularly in the Senate. It
was urged that the agreements now
in effect would go right ahead,
whether the law died temporarily or
not.
The administration-the President
and Secretary Hull-were entirely
opposed to following this easier
course. They decided to fight the
matter out Senator Harrison's sup
port was enlisted IN the Senate.
Under the Constitution, the fight
started in the House, which has the
initiation of all revenue legislation.
There the administration forces
quickly lined up. rhe bill after ex-
tenslye hearings was reported from
the Ways and Means Committee. In
vain did the Republicans seek to
rally enough votes to stop the
measure in the House 1t passed
The situation in the Senate was
more ominous. Two Senators from
Western State have as much voice
IN the Senate as have two Senators
from the most populous industrial
States. Such important Democrats
as the President pro tempore of the
Senate, Senator Pittman of Nevada,
chairman If the Foreign Relations
Committee; Senator Ashurst of Ari-
zona, chairman If the Judiciary
Committee; Senator Adams of Colo
RADIO, Senator OManoney of Wyom-
ing were against the measure There
were others who eyed the measure
askance, like Connallv of Texas.
Senator Harrison's Task.
The task which became Senator
Harrison's was to line up enough
Democratic votes TO stave off all
nullifying amendments and pass the
bill extending the life of the Trade
Agreements Act. He set about the
job diligently. His great personal
popularity, as we'll as his powers of
argument and persuasion. helped
him. In the end he mac aligned with
him many of the administration
most bitter Democratic opponents of
other Roosevelt legislation. On the
showdown in the Senate, it was the
Smiths. the Georges. the Clarks
Missouri, the Tydings. the Van
Nuys and the Washes who put the
bill through-who turned back.
The stiffest hurdles Senator Har-
rison had to jump we,s the amend
ments proposing to have all trade
agreements submitted to the Senate
for ratification, or 10 both houses of
Congress. He was able to clear them,
although with only three or four
votes to spare, indeed a change of
three votes would have sung the
death knell for the Trade Agree
ments Act as it now stands.
Fight Was Bitter.
The fight was oitter-but Senator
Harrison did much to keep feeling
down by his handling of the bill,
both in committee and on the floor
Of the Senate. He is an adept,
knowing when to speak and when
not to say a word. He was able to
get the bill reported to the Senate
without amendments, although men,
bers of the Finance Committee re-
served the right to offer and vote
for them on the floor In the final
hours of the bills consideration in
the Senate, it became known that
Vice President Garner was favoring
the Walsh amendment. which would
have limited the operation of the