Evening star., 1948-05-27

Opposed byTaft
.AndVandenberq
Both Leave LoophoIe
For Commission to
Protect U. S. Interests
By J. A. O'leor

ers-Senators Vandenberg of
Michigan and Taft of Ohio
went on record today against
giving Congress the veto power
over tariff rates voted by the
House yesterday, 234 to 139
At the same time, however. both
left the door open for vesting the
Federal Tariff Commission with
power to fix general standards to
protect American industry and labor
from excessive tariff cuts.
Senator Vandeneberg said the Re-
riprocal Trade Agreements Act
should be extended in virtually its
present form. AS for the length OF
the extension, he said that "is of no
great consequence" although he
prefers two or three years
The measure pushed through the
House by the Republican majority
yesterday calls for a one-year exten-
sion. The present act is due to ex-
pire June IL.
President Truman and Secretary
OF State Marshall have urged a
three-year extension without change
in the act. The House disregarded
those pleas in cutting the length of
time and providing that Congress
can veto trade agreement.
Senate Hearing Arranged.
The Senate Finance Committee
announced it will hold two days Of
open hearings next week before act
ing on the House measure.
The reciprocal trade agreement
principle should be preserved un-
weakened Senator Vandenberg told
reporters. 1T is indispensable in
today's world. This rules out any
congressional veto on tariff rates. I
shall not support this feature of the
House bill.
But it does not rule out legitimate
,procedural precautions to prevent
excessive tariff reductions which
threaten domestic industry and
labor. favor the practical use OF
the Federal Tariff Commission to set
the safety limits within which the
President may freely negotiate, This
is in the House bill
But If the President finds it is
in the national interest to nego-
tiate beyond these limits. it is suf-
| ficient restraint to require him to
publish the Tariff Commission rec
lamentations with his disclosure OF
their breach. This was recon-
mended one year ago by Senator
Millikin Republican. of Colorado
and me in connection with the
executive order issued at that
! time"
| Exact Position Unclear.
1t was not clear whether Sem
ators Taft and Vandenberg have
in mind giving exactly the same
degree Of weight to the Tariff Com
mission findings, but they were in
accord on not bringing the tariff
making function back to the floor
of the House and Senate every time
rate Is changed.
Senator Vandenberg shared the
view of most other Senators that
the length of the extension. as be-
tween one or three years, is of no
great consequence, because there
are no new trade agreements in
prospect Immediately.
/ international trade practices are
in constant f1ux and our attitudes
must be responsively resilient" Sem
stor Vandenberg continued Since
the character of the act will always
depend on the administrative judg-
ments, the real decisions will be
made after the next elections. I
prefer an extension of three. or at
| least two, years for the sake Of un-
derscoring what is now an indlspens-
able principle in helping trade for
us and our customers. But the time
OF the extension is largely academic
under existing circumstances"
Backs Standards Authority.
Senator Taft said he wants TO keep
| in the House bill authority for the
Tariff Commission to set standards
so that tariff adjustments will not
destroy American industry.
Senator George, Democrat, Of
Georgia. ranking minority member
of the Finance Committee. said
he hoped the Senate would agree
to straight 6ne-year extension.
without the House changes in the
law, as a compromise.
| The House vote of 234 to 149
showed the Republicans did not
have the two-thirds they would need
to pass their new tariff making
formula over a presidential veto.
! This means that If Mr.. Truman
should veto the House formula, the
Trade Agreement Act would die on
June II, unless the Republican
leaders in Congress backed down
| and passed a straight extension bill
/ at the last moment.
George Agrees With Marshall.
! Senator George told reporters
! after the House had acted that he
agrees with Secretary OF State Mar
shall that no law would be better
than the House revision.
In the House Is Democrats crossed
(See TARIFF, Page A-5)