Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-07-23
CUMMINS ASSAILS
TARIFF MEASURE
Senator Holds Low Rates Invite
Disaster.
SEES THE FARMERS IGNORED
Iowa LaWmaker Answered by Sim
mons, Who Declares That Demo-
cratic Bill FuIfiIIs Admin
lstration Pledge.

Washington, July 21-Progressiv
Republican opposition of the Under
wood-Simmons tariff bill was express
ed in the senate by Senator Cummins
of Iowa, who analysed and condemn
ed many of it's provisions. The SEN
ator devoted considerable attention
to the tariff schedules and announced
himself in favor of the income tax
amendment, substantially as written
by the Democrats, "if it could not be
changed to better suit the exigencies
Of the situation" He declared, how
ever, that he would not vote for the
bill
Cummins Criticises Wilson.
Senator Cummins criticised Presi-
dent Wilson for bringing to bear the
executive influence upon the trainers
of the measure and he also was sharp
in his criticisms of legislation by Sc
cret caucus.
The influence that has been exerted
by the president upon members Of
congress, an influence so persistent
and determined that it became coer-
cfve," said Cummins, lis known to ev-
cry intelligent citizen of the United
States. Without respect to the sound
ness Of his economic views l am op-
posed to the executive interference
Of which he has been guilty and | in
tend now, and upon every appropriate
occasion in the future, to register my
protest against it."
Pays Respects to Tariff Bill.
Of the tariff bill itself Senator Cum
minis said:
''The Democratic party has misun-
derstood the meaning of the election
Of 1912. 1t will discover it's mistake
at the first opportunity which the
voters have again to express them
selves. Unquestionably the tariff will
increase Importation and diminish the
home production of a great many
things and will force into idleness
many workingmen. 1 earnestly hope
that it's effect in that respect will not
reach the proportions of an industrial
revolution. 1t is easy to see, how
ever, that the depression which must
inevitably follow must be aggravated
by other causes into a general disas-
ter.
Says Bill Is Rank Injustice.
''The bill is rank injustice and
discrimination, even if we accept the
Democratic faith and test it by the
revenue standard.
First it takes the products of agri-
culture and, in the main, puts them
on the free list. 1t is probable true
that some of these commodities need
no protective duty, but many of them
do need such duty and to treat the
farmer as an outlaw is so maEifestly
wrong that I can no more give my
support to the proposition when pre-
sented in this form than l could when
it was proposed to exclude him from a
protective system through a recip-
rocal agreement with Canada
Second, the bill proceeds on the
theory that the manufactures of the
finished product is entitled to raw
material free Of duty. This is all very
well il the raw material can be pro-
duced in this country as cheaply as
abroad, but if that costs more here to
produce it, then the raw material of
the manufacturer should be dutiable.
Third, entirely apart from the OBJ
vious discrimination of the bill, it's
duties are, upon many commodities,
destructively inadequate While some
of them are quite high enough, it
still remains true that what may be
called the lesser industries Of the
country will suffer"
Simmons in Opening Talk.
Senator Simmons, chairman of the
finance committee, made the opening
Democratic argument in favor of the
Underwood tariff bill now be-
fore the senate.
"As reported 20 the senate" said
Senator Simmons, "the bill reflects the
collective opinion of senators repre-
senting the party responsible for the
proposed legislation
1.-The amendments offered by the SEN
ate finance committee are proposed in
a spirit of disagreement with the house
or to the theory of tariff revision
upon which that body acted. On the
other hand, they are offered with a
view to carrying out and protecting
the principles of revenue producing
tariff upon basis of competitive rates
enunciated by the ways and means
committee of the house as a just and
fair Interpretation in the light of ex-
listing conditions and of the platform
pledges of the dominant party upon the
tariff"
Mrs. Pankhurst Is Arrested.