Evening star., 1943-05-29
George Sees Chance
To Pass Trade Pacts
Law by tuesday Night
Predicts Close Vote, but
Expects All Amendments
Will Be Defeated
BY the Associated Press.

Confidence that the Senate
will vote to continue the recipro-
cal trade agreements law with
out change, possibly by Tuesday
night, was voiced today by Sena-
tor George, Democrat, of
Georgia.
Before adjourning over the Memo
rial Day week end, the Senate
agreed to vote at 2:30 pm. Tuesday
on the controversial Danaher
amendment, adopted by the Finance
Committee over Chairman Georges
objections. The amendment would ,
empower Congress to end the trade
agreements by joint resolution six
months after the war ends.
Senator George and Minority
Leader McNary both were ready for
a Tuesday night session if there is
any possibility of getting a final vote
on the bill. While admitting the vote
would be close, Senator George pre-
dicted all amendments would fail.
He contends that adoption of the
proposal made by Senator Danaher,
Republican, of Connecticut would be
equivalent to serving notice on
friendly nations that the United
States is considering change in its
trade policies.
Theory Attacked and Defended.
That theory was attacked and
defended yesterday during six hours
of listless oratory in the sparsely
tenanted chamber.
The argument that failure to ex-
tend this act will be interpreted by
other nations as evidence of a policy
Of non-co-operation is pure bunk"
asserted Senator BuShfeld, Repub-
llcan, South Dakota.
Senator Byrd. Democrat, of Vir-
ginia declared it would be "a trag-
edy' to return to log-rolling tariff
methods and said continuation of
the present system would give
American producers and traders an
opportunity to deal with the busi-
ness men of other countries on terms
determined by themselves, not their
governments.
The law, in effect for the last nine
years authorizes the President,
without congressional approval, to
enter into trade agreements with
other nations and to raise or lower
tariff rates as much as so per cent.
In a sharp attack on the trade
agreement program. Senator LANCER.
Republican. of North Dakota told
his colleagues he believes the Amer
lcan people have been grossly de-
ceived by these alleged experts who
have taken upon themselves the
rights and prerogatives of the elected
members of Congress in negotiating
trade agreements through executive
action.
Thomas Takes Exception.
IaKlng exception TO Senator
Langer's assertions, Senator Thomas,
Democrat, of Utah said all tariff
acts passed by Congress in the past
have been "repudiated' by the peo-
pie
I'VE have at last worked out
technique that has received the
support of the American people and
the reciprocal trade agreements
should be continued" he declared.
Senator LANCER said he is con-
vinced governmental bureaucrats
have grand ideas of setting up
world to their own liking.
They do not seem to care what
1t costs the workers and farmers of
America" he said. They have set
up over the years a secret SUPER
government, within the Government,
which has successfully pulled the
wool over the eyes of the people, and
these bureaucrats now feel they
control all political parties.
Who wants these trade agree
ments for use now? Not even the
State Department. They desire to
have this authority so that when
we reach the time of the peace ne
got1ations they will have this
power for postwar planning. Arc
you in accord with the postwar
planning program of America be-
coming Santa Claus for the world so
that bureaucrats can make the post
war treaties as they desire?
If we extend this authority, and
1t is IN existence when this war is
over, l venture to say that we will
have the greatest list of secret
treaties that was ever known in
| world history"