Evening star., 1940-03-24
7 rude

the power they are granting author
ICES a President to increase tariffs
as we'll as lower them"
Power to Increase Tariffs.
IF, by any misfortune, high
protective Republican President
should be elected in November, he
| could enter agreements with for
eign governments, increasing tariffs
at least SO per cent" Senator Pitt
man continued. 1--WE have drifted
far in the delegation of legislative
power to the President. Granting
the power for these agreements
affecting matters of public welfare,
through subterfuge may abolish the
constitutional requirement regard
ing treaties"
Celebrating on his view Of the
problem, Senator Pittman said:
II realize that there are many ad-
vantages in negotiating tariffs, but
I am firmly of the opinion that these
agreements are treaties under the
Constitution and require ratification
by the United States Senate.
There are two ways to make laws
under the Constitution-by congress
sional action or by treaties. Treaties,
of course, must be ratified by two
thirds of the Senate 1t is evident,
of course, that Congress is granting
to the President the power to make
a treaty without the requirement Of
ratification. 1t is urged by propo-
nents Of the legislation that there
might be some delay in ratifying the
proposed agreements III admit that
legislation is not as expeditions un-
der our form of Government as it is
under totalitarian government. The
trainers of our Constitution consid-
cred the preservation of personal
liberty Of greater importance than
expedition.
Would Set Precedent.
IF the Senate grants this author
ity to the President without the res
ervation of ratification, then it will
set precedent under which power
could be granted for the President
to enter agreements with foreign
governments to such extent as he
deemed the peace of the United
States required. Such an authoriza-
ton would permit the President to
enter the League of Nations or ad-
here to the World Court"
If the ratification proposal fails,
other moves may be made to require
approval of future trade agreements
by majority vote of both houses.
There is still another proposal that
may be offered. similar to the con-
gressional veto clause in the Gov
ernment Reorganization Act. Under
this plan proposed trade agreements
would be submitted to Congress, to
take effect after so days unless both
houses passed resolution of disap-
proval within that time.
La Toilette Amendment.
Before a final vote on the trade
agreement program Senator La Fol-
lette, Progressive. of Wisconsin also
will offer his amendment to create
an export-import control board to
protect American producers and con-
sumers from the effects of trade
conditions growing out of the Euro
pean war.
The trade agreement program was
inaugurated in 1884. and under it
agreements have been entered into
with 81 countries, in which. the FL
nance Committee contends, conces-
sions have been obtained on thou
sands of separate tariff items, pro-
viding improved outlets for hundreds
of American agricultural and indus
trial products
The backbone of the opposition
consists of group of Western men,
bers. who contend agriculture has
suffered from the agreements. Ad-
ministration supporters will chal-
lenge this contention during the de-
bate.