Evening star., 1940-01-15
By BLAIR BOLLES,

nADCAA Do4hiSy Wiz 0SAAooS AAAA
jority leader, predicted today that
the Senate would give the admin
istration a close victory in one OF
its warmest fights at this congress
sional session, by passage of the
resolution providing for three-year
extension of the executive authority
to negotiate reciprocal trade agree
ments after June II.
The battle was still far from being
a Senate affair, as the House Ways
and Means Committee went ahead
with the preliminary legislative
steps of hearings on the resolution.
Both the committee and the House,
however, are expected to approve the
extension without the party split
that is looked for in the Senate on
the issue.
I The Ways and Means Committee
hearing this morning turned into a
debate between Chairman Dough-
ton and Representative Crowther,
Republican, of New York over the
retail bargaining wisdom of the
American woman.
DR.. Crowther said the American
glove manufacturer was injured by
low tariffs in a market where wom-
en- already insist on foreign made
gloves simply because they are for
eign-although American gloves are
superior to all, in DR.. Crowther's
view.
Found Reflection on Women.
Mr.. Doughton found this remark
reflection" on American women.
DR.. Crowther countered that this
was a narrow" view. and went on
to protest because anglo
in this country prefer to buy an
inexpensive English worsted suit to
an American suit.
This discussion interrupted the
testimony of Undersecretary of
Commerce Noble, who expressed the
businessman opinion"-the opin-
ion of a businessman from the ira
ditionally protective tariff region of
New England-that the trade agree
ments, lowering tariffs here and
abroad, have benefited American
commerce.
Mr.. Noble, a Connecticut confec-
tionary manufacturer, said the
agreements brought the greatest
good to the greatest number" and
have leveled the tariff barriers in
the Smoot- -Hawley Act of 1890"
This remark brought an objection
from Representative Treadway, Re-
publican, of Massachusetts, in the
form of question, that there were
no barriers" in Smoot- Hawley
Mr.. Treadway intimated that the
administration is guilty of sophistry
in the use OF the word barrier"
Categorical Disagreement.
The second principal anti-agree-
ments argument of the day came
from Representative Knutson, Re-
publican, of Minnesota that the
agreements have injured American
agriculture at home and not i'm
proved its export market abroad
Mr.. Noble stated categorical dis
agreement with both of Mr.. Knut-
sons contentious.
Mr.. KnutSon suggested that the
increase in American exports dur
ing the six years of the agree
ments' life may be due in large part
to commerce in war materials, with
specific references to scrap iron
sales to Japan. The Minnesotan
in an aside came to the support of
Chairman Doughton in his debate
with DR.. Crowther.
II don't think it Is up to us to
be interested in what people buy.
Its none of our business, for in
stance, if the White House prefers
Argentine beef to American beef
Heaven forbid interfering with
anybody's spending his money"
Mr.. Noble, who said he was q Re
publican, granted there were nmi-
tations in the merit of the agree
ments system of negotiating in
stead of legislating tariff charges,
by admitting that in some corces-
sions the negotiators have made
mistakes" He added:
1T would be a miracle II there
were not a few mistakes"
Questioned About Duties.
After Mr.. Dudley had defined hi.
duties as a trial examiner In detail
the committee counsel asked: "Dt
you not fulfill the functions o,
Judge, prosecutor and jury?"
Il don't think the answer to thai
| is yes," said the witness. Il do moi
prosecute cases-the boards attor.
neys do that. And I am not Z
| judge am an administrative assn'