Evening star., 1955-02-19
Trade
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lican, Of Maryland voted for tn,
Reed motion. Representative.
Lankford. Democrat, of Mary.
land and Smith, Democrat, ant
Broyhill. Republican of Virgins
voted against it.
If the Reed proposal had pre-.
vailed, the bill would have beer
amended to make the finding:
of the Tariff Commission bind.
ing on the President. This would
apply to complaints that nego.
tiated tariff cuts caused o,
threatened serious injury to do
mestic industry in a competitive
position with imports from
abroad. That restriction would
not have applied where national
security was involved.
Fear Restriction.
Backers Of the bill declared the
amendment would greatly re-
strict presidential authority and
discretion. They said it would
practically put him at the mercy
of a majority of the Tariff Com
mission in trying to administer
the reciprocal trade agreements
program. Representative Boggs,
Democrat, of Louisiana warned
that adoption Of the amendment
would "be saying we no longer
trust the President"
Representative Simpson, Re-
publican, of Pennsylvania and
several other supporters of the
recommittal move, contended
that the proposed change would
be the most equitable and direct
way of dealing with tariff prob
lens.
They asserted that the pres
ent procedure, whereby the Pres
ident need not follow findings
and recommendations Of the
commission, amounts to a back
door approach" by having the
State Department or other gov
ernmental agencies handle such
policy. They added that Presi-
dents have seldom followed the
commissions findings.
House passage of the bill was
hailed by Mr.. Eisenhower. He
stated last night that the pro-
gram, as it would be extended
and broadened in the House bill,
was "of tremendous significance
to the economic health and Sc
curity Of the United States and
our friends in the free world"
President Asks Approval.
In the letter read to the House
earlier by Republican Leader
Martin, the President urged ap-
proval of the bill but did not
specifically mention the Reed
proposal. Mr.. Martin told the
House, however, he was satisfied
that the proposal would not be
satisfactory to the President.
The President wrote that few
programs will contribute more
fundamentally than the trade
agreements program ito the
long-term security of our coun-
try" He said he deeply believed
that the national interest calls
for enactment of the bill.
Obviously it would i'll serve
our Nations interest to under
mine American industry or take
steps which would lower the
high wages received by our
working men and women" he
said. Repeatedly I have en-
phasized that our own country's
economic strength is a pillar of
fre e d o m everywhere in the
world. This program, then, must
be and will be administered to-
the benefit Of the Nations eco
nomic strength and not to its
detriment. No American indus
try will be placed in jeopardy by
the administration of this
THE program underlies much
Of our military effort abroad and
promises ourtpeople ultimate re-
lief from burdensome foreign as
sistance.
THE program, moreover. pro-
vides for reciprocity, and in the
programs administration the
Of true reciprocity will
be faithfully applied. Americans
alone solve all world trade
The cooperation of
our friends abroad is essential"
Heard With Respect.
The reading of Mr.. Eisenhow-
er's two-page letter received a
respectful, though not particu-
larly enthusiastic, reception. Mr..
Simpson noted that the letter
lin no wise stated opposition" to
the Reed amendment, although
the White House had ample ad-
vance notice Of the proposal.
Representative Bailey. Demo- |
rat, Of West Virginia, who
opened the debate Thursday with |
IN attack on what he called the |
gag rule" against amendments |
~ the protectionist forces, made |
'ne of the wind-up speeches yes
,erday. He remarked that Mr. |
Eisenhower, having sent the ap-
peal letter to Mr.. Martin, could |
lot have been too much con-
,erned about the matter. The |
West Vfrginian noted that the |
news ticker had Just reported