Evening star., 1940-03-27
demned as log-rolling, general revi-
sions of the tariff"
Concentrated Trade Authority,

Concentrated Trade Authority.
The alternative is to seek reci-
procity which tangibly reciprocates;
tc provide concentrated foreign
trade authority which can cope with
all the external trade penalties
which American export increasingly
confronts; to keep our tariffs elastic,
through the medium of ministerial
agency which responds to specific
congressional criteria, and in con-
stant adjustment to American costs
of competitive production"
Meanwhile, administration Demo-
Gratis in the Senate were urged to stay
on the job to outvote opponents of
the reciprocal trade program, as
President Roosevelts personal in
f1uence was thrown into the fight
against a move to require Senate
ratification of new trade agree
ments.
Senator Minton, Democrat, of In
diana, the Democratic whip, wrote
supporters of the bill, asking them
not to leave Washington during the
debate
Too Close to Risk.
The vote is so close that we can
not take the risk of any absentees, :"
his message said.
Mr.. Roosevelts position on the
controversial issue was made clear
after a visit to the White House by
Chairman Harrison Of the Senate
Finance Committee.
With a vote approaching on an
amendment by Senator Pittman,
Democrat, of Nevada, to require
Senate ratification of new trade
agreements, Senator Harrison laid
the situa ton before the Chief Ex-
ecutive Yesterday and left the White
House saying:
The President is of course in
tensely anxious that the Pittman
amendment and all others be de-
feated."
Meanwhile, Western support for
the Pittman proposal welled up in
speeches by Senator McCarran,
Democrat, of Nevada and Senator
O'Mahoney, Democrat, of Wyom-
ing questioning the constitutionality
of the Trade Agreements Act un-
less Senate ratification is added.
Senator Pittman and his sup
porters contend the agreements are
actually treaties, and as such must
under the Constitution have the
approval of two-thirds Of the Sem
ate. Administration supporters
argue that the bill is constitu-
tional as it stands, and that Senate
ratification would offer such op-
portunities for delay and log roll
ing as to make the program inef1ec-
tive.
Held Unconstitutional.
In the course of another day of
routine and unexcited debate. Sem
ator McCarran asserted that the
system strikes "at the heart of
constitutional government" by re-
moving from Congress the taxing
power involved in changing tariff
rates.
After referring to the fact that
Secretary of State Hull, the author
of the program, is possible presi-
dental candidate, Senator McCar-
ran said the cabinet member had
opposed the old flexible tariff act as
undoubtedly unconstitutional" al
though the latter was much more
constitutional" than the Trade
Agreements Act. The old law en-
powered the President to proclaim
changes in the tariff rates upon
the recommendation of the. Tariff
Commission.
Senator OMahoney said the argu-
ments of Senators Pittman and Nc
Carran were "unanswerable," and
that it was a tragedy" that only
a small portion of the Senate men,
bership had stayed in the chamber
and listened to them.
Senator OMahoney was chided
by Senator Clark, Democrat, of
Missouri and Majority Leader Bark
ley for urging Senate ratification of
the agreements. Senator Clark said
Senator OMahoney had opposed
ratification in 1894 and 1887.