Evening star., 1943-05-16
Victory in Senate
On Trade Agreements
Predicted by George
Committee Head Seeks
To Get Issue to Floor
By Thursday
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

The Senate will approve ex-
tension of the administrations S
authority to make reciprocal
trade agreements with other
countries, Chairman George of
the Finance Committee predicted
last night, the only question be-
ing the extent to which amend
ments will be attempted.
Senator George voiced hope that
no restrictions will be attached to
the House-approved resolution that
would discourage liberal trading
policies, or that would indicate to
other nations any basic change of
attitude by the United States.
Meanwhile, with Secretary of
State Hull invited to appear before
the Finance Committee tomorrow
morning, Senator George prepared
to expedite the hearings, in an
effort to get the issue to the floor
by Thursday or Friday. The exist
ing Trade Agreement Act expires
June II.
Fight for Original Period Seen.
Administration forces are expect
ed to advocate return to the
original three-year extension period
which the House cut to two wears.
On the other hand, those who
believe the present law goes too far
IN delegating to the executive
branch the power to make trade
agreements are almost certain to
renew the move that failed in the
House to give Congress some meth
Cd Of passing on agreements before
they become effective,
Senate Minority Leader McNarv
said he believed the House improved
the bill by writing in the two-year
limitation.
1 cannot visualize any important
trade agreements being entered into
IN the next few years" he added.
ITO that extent, the matter is some
what academic.
of course. there is a good deal of
feeling, inside Congress and out,
that Congress should have the right
TO peep into the treaties before they
take effect. I share that view"
Log Rolling Methods Opposed.
At the same time, Senator George
declared that any return to the old
legislative log-rolling methods of
making tariffs would be bad, war
or no war and said to require con-
gressional approval of the agree
ments would be "a partial return"
to that system. In the Trade Agree
ment Act Congress has made an ad-
vance in handling the problem of
foreign trade and tariff regulation.
"and we ought to hold that gain"
the Georgian said.
There are indications that some
OF those who want to impose a
congressional check on the agree
ments do not feel the issue is so
vital with an extension for only two
years. The reasoning behind this
1eelng Is that the war probably will
last two years and that compara-
lively Jew new agreements are pos
slble while hostilities continue.
Senator George said, however, that
the executive branch is anxious to
have the regular three-year extern
sion period, so that the act would
not expire again in the midst of
war, or in the confused state that
may prevail Immediately following
the war
1t developed yesterday that SEN
ator Maloney, Democrat, of Con-
necticut is prepared to advocate con-
gressional ratification of the agree
ments, on the ground that they are
treaties, and Republican members of
the Finance Committee were work.
Ing on a proposal to terminate the
agreements automatically six months
after the war ends.