Evening star., 1940-03-30
Trade Pact Extension
Foreseen Next Week
After Slim Victory
Pittmon Ratification
Amendment Detected
By A-to-4l Vote
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

Administration leaders were con-
fldent today the three-year extern
sion of the reciprocal trade program
will 60 through the Senate next week
without material change, following
their victory yesterday against the
Pittman amendment that would
have required ratification Of future
trade pacts by a two-thirds vote of
the Senate.
Although they must still face sew
eral amendments seeking to give
Congress some other form Of veto
power over the agreements, friends
of the existing Trade Agreement
Act regarded the vote on the Pitt
man proposal as the major test OF
opposition strength.
Vote "A to Al.
The vote on the Pittman amend
ment was "A to Al. bearing out pre-
dictions by both sides that the issue
would be decided by a slender mar
gin. Eighteen Democrats. most from
the West, joined with solid Repub-
lican contingent. one Progressive and
one Farmer -Laborite in support of
the amendment. Forty-three Demo-
Gratis and one independent united
to sustain the administration. A
change of two votes would have car
ried the amendment.
The attitude of supporters of the
trade agreement program toward the
amendment was summed up by Sen
ator Norris. independent, of Ne
braska shortly before the vote, when
he declared:
"The Pittman amendment would
kill the whole thing as dead as a
doornail'
% Nations Signed Up.
This viewpoint was based on be-
lief that it would be slow and diff
ficult process to obtain two-thlrds
vote Of the Senate on each trade
agreement negotiated. Since the pro-
gram was inaugurated in 1884 the
State Department has made agree
ments with @ nations. which will
continue in force, subject to the pro-
vision contained in the agreements
for termination by either party after
due notice. The basic law authoriz-
ing new agreements would expire.
however, on June II without the
pending resolution.
Chairman Harrison of the Finance
Committee predicted final Senate
passage by Wednesday.
Following the Pittman vote. the
Senate recessed until Monday. when
debate will start on the McCarran
amendment to exclude from future
negotiations products that are sub
iect to excise taxes. as distinguished
from tariff duties. This would ex-
clude copper. oil. lumber and coal.
Later. efforts will be made to
modify the existing law to require
approval of future agreements by
ma ajority vote of the House and Sem
ate. While some of the Senators
who opposed the Pittman amend
ment are expected to vote for this
restriction. administration spokes-
men indicated they expect SOME
switches in the other direction to
offset those votes.
Schwartz Sets Vote.
Senator Schwartz, Democrat. of
Wyoming. who announced just be-
fore the vote that he would oppose
the Pittman amendment. made
known at the same time he will
favor the subsequent motion of Sen
ator OMahoney. Democrat, of
Wyoming to require approval by
both branches of Congress of future
agreements.
Senator Truman, Democrat, of
Missouri, an administration sup
porter. few back to Washington for
yesterdays roll call. Hurrying to
the Capitol from the airport. the
Missourian arrived an hour before
the vote.
As soon as the vote had been an
nounced Senators Harrison of Mis-
sissippi and Clark of Missouri took
the usual parliamentary steps to
prevent the question from being re-
opened later. by moving at once to
reconsider and then moving to lay
that motion on the table Another
roll call was demanded on this
motion, and the reconsideration was
tabled, IS to 40, ending that phase
of the fight.