Detroit evening times., 1945-03-31
POLITICAL
PARADE
BY George
RothweII Brown

pRESlDENI KOosENELl D
- demand of more power over
the tariff structure, that would
reduce this country virtually 10
a free trade basis in the post
war world, is a part of the
Breton Woods scheme to make
America the worlds Santa
Claus.
The message to Congress is
reminiscent of the customary
hocuS by which Congress in the
past has been induced TO sur
render its Constitutional power
TO levy tariffs for the purpose
of raising revenue for the sup
port of the government.
The reciprocity scheme was
advanced first under the Spe-
ciouS promise that it would in
crease exports.
II was renewed under the de-
ceptlVe guise of a measure 10
prevent war.
It's renewal for three years
(into the next presidential
campaign is recommended as
a device 10 save the world from
peacetlme economic warfare.
THE by-passing of Congress
l. by the So-called Hull trade
agreementS-w which the Senate
never had an opportunity 10
ratify, or reject, did not in
crease exports, as the statistics
will prove.
The scheme the President
now again urges upon Congress
is as British as Breton Woods.
British economists are en-
phasiZing at this moment the
need for increasing the export
trade of the British Isles after
the war. Only thus can Britain
survive.
The New Deal economists
promise 10 meet this British
necessity by obligingly lowering
American tariff barriers. The
theory is that we must finance
the world from the United
States treasury, under the Bret
ton Woods international bank.
DEPUBLICAN members of
IL the ways and means COM
mittee do not propose 10 have
this extension of the trade
agreements act rushed through
Congress in time TO serve, like
Breton Woods, as payoff
medium at the United Nations
conference at San Francisco.
They will resist this extern
sion, and to a further grant of
authority to the President 10
reduce present tariff rates by
80 per cent BELOW THE EN-
ISTING LEVEL. Some MEM
bers Of ways and means who
voted for reciprocity before Will
oppose it now.
DEP. JOHN TABER Of New
IL York. not a member of
ways and means, in conversa-
tlon with this writer. summed
up the almost Immediately hos
tile Republican reaction 10 the
Presidents newest demand for
tariff power:
"This il designed to establish
a dictatorship and accomplish
the plan TO wreck the American
economy.
"It would wreck the peace as
well. IL would lead other nations
to expect a permanent continu-
ance OF things which other
countries cannot intelligently
hope for.
Ii would throw labor out OF
employment in this country.
ut would destroy employ
ment.
at would lower the standard
of living in the United States
and reduce us 10 the low world
standard Of living"
The President has walked int
one of his hottest fights wit
Congress.
He has made il less likely tha
legislation TO implement BrettoI
Woods can be rushed through
House and Senate without reSer
vations prior 10 the meeting o
the nations at San Francisco.
The pressure blocs of the
Roosevelt New Deal, seeking to
extend the bureaucratic social-
zation uf America into The
peacetime world, are not only
ravenous of power. but they are
cunning and devious in their
methods.
Much the same sort Of thing
that is occurring now in Wash
ington occurred at the close Of
World War /. when the Wood
row Wilson bureaucracy. built
up under war conditions, fought
like A tiger 10 prevent its own
liquidation in the interest Of
economy ana relet Ior the TAX
payer.
This bureaucracy of a quarter
Of a century ago operated so
flagrantly that it was caught
in the act. It was discovered by
Congress to be using GOVERN
MENT MONEY TO maintain a
pressure lobby.
When a pet agency OF the
bureaucratS was in danger Of
being scrapped, it would bring
pressure groups TO Washington,
at public expense, 10 hound
Congress into a vote favorable
10 the perpetuatlon OF the
threatened agency.