Evening star., 1948-05-26
By J. A. O'Leory

with the bill.
By }. A. o'Leory
House Republicans won the
first test of strength today in
the fight between the two major
parties over tariff policy for the
coming year.
BY roll call vote of 212 to 1856,
they succeeded in closing debate on
a special rule, barring any amend
ments. This probably will bring the
bill to final passage before nightfall.
The bill extends the Reciprocal
Trade Agreements Act for one year,
with an amendment giving Congress
the right to set aside any agreement
if the President goes beyond the
recommendation of the Federal
Tariff Commission in changing i'm
port duties.
Democrats Assail Bill.
Democrats denounced the meas
ure as a return to isolationism and
high tariff walls, while Republican
leaders defended it as an effort to
continue the trade agreement pro-
gram with reasonable safeguards for
American business and labor.
The sharp debate in the House
today was a preview of the oratory
that is expected over the tariff issue
in this years presidential campaign.
High lights in the opening hour of
debate were:
Representative Mccormack, DEM
ocrat, of Massachusetts, took from
his pocket a letter written from
Bethesda Naval Hospital last night
by former Secretary of State Cordell
Hull appealing for extension of the
law for three years without Grip
ping amendments" Mr.. Hull was
the father of the original act in
1884.
Reckless Statements" Charged.
Majority Leader Halleck accused
Secretary of State Marshall OF
reckless statements" on the pend
ing bill, without mentioning the
Secretary by name.
In a letter sent to Capitol Hill
Gen. Marshall said the COP meas
ure would be worse than no bill at
all. Mr.. Halleck told the House
some reckless statements" are be-
ing made by people in high places
in foreign affairs when they say
they would rather have nothing at
all than this bill"
Representative .Forand. Democrat
of Rhode Island. said that If Con-
gress passes this bill I'VE will be
telling the world the United States
has decided to change its policy so
far s u trade with the world is con-
cerI a, that we are backtracking
am Egoing back to the days of log
re .lng tariff making and isolation
i'm"
The Democrats are supporting the
administrations request for a
straight three-year extension with
out any new strings being tied to
the Presidents power to make tariff
concessions to countries which re-
ciprocate in their duties on Amer
ican goods.
A party conference yesterday re-
vealed that some Republicans, LED
by Chairman Eaton of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, will back the
Democratic plea.
Veto Threat Reported.
Throughout the 14-year life of the
trade agreement program, the Re-
publioans have advocated some form
of congressional check on tariff ad-
justments, but the Democrats held
the reins on Capitol Hill each time
the act came up for renewal until
this year.
There have been reports that
President Truman will veto this
watered-down version of the law. if
the Senate concurs in the House
bill. The law expires on June IL
however, and in vetoing this bill
the President would have to decide
whether no loaf Is better than half
loaf.
The issue is more important in
its long-range aspects than in its
immediate effects. The United
States already has made trade
agreements with most of it's chief
trading areas. and these would re-
main in force regardless of what
happens to the pending bill.
Handling of Act Criticized.
Chairman Knutson of the House
Ways and Means Committee sound
ed the COP policy note last night
when he declared State Department
handling of the Reciprocal Trade
Act has exposed American workers
Ito the competition of pauper labor
in other lands to a degree never
before experienced"
I In taking issue with his parts
leaders, Mr.. Eaton said the trade
agreement program should not bt
abandoned or denatured."
The stimulation of trade Is an i'm.
portant objective of the bipartisan
foreign policy which caused Con-
gress to pass the Marshall Plan. Mr.
Eaton's comment expresses the view
of those Republicans who have de.
veloped the bipartisan foreign
r>o1iry