Evening star., 1918-11-24
HIGHER TARIFF, NEW
CONGRESS PROMISE
Republicans, in Control of Lawmaking, Will
Enact Protective Measures for
American Industry.

tariff law that will compel the other
nations to come up to our living
standards rather than pull us down
to theirs.
Letter Arouses Suspicion.
The republicans also Wow with
suspicion a paragraph In Secretary
McAdoo's letter last week to senator
Simmons on the revenue bill. as q
suggestion that the United States
should encourage imports from the
allies so that they might pay In kind
and not in credit-enough to- cover
the exchange-which is just re-
have been.
Here are two points that will be
emphasized by the republicans In
Justification of a strong protective
tariff:
1st. Our revenues from imports col
while Great Britain, recognized the
world over as the great free-trade
country. as collecting .$10.23 per cap
ita- This condition with our imports
increasing and our free list dncreas-
ing.
the major portion Of tho imports arc
on an ad valorem basis. AS the col
lections of duties on imports have
gone down each year prices OF inn
ports have gone up. The difference
between a tariff law on q specific
basis and on an ad' valorem basis Is
that the specific rates operate SO that
when the price of the article goes
up the ad valorem goes down, and
when the value Of tho article de-
creases the ad valorem under tho
specific rate goes up.
who stand with him point out that
when you put sliding scale OF an
ad valorem tax on the article 1t
gives cunning, shrewd. dishonest
importer the opportunity Of under
valuing. and in many cases makes 1t
difficult for our experts to determine
the value. Consequently, we have
such cases in court practically all the
time"
Ship Problem Involved.
Republicans in the House and on the
ways and means committee, ever since
the war began, have favored raising
additional revenue by increase Of GUS
toms duties. They now see still fur
ther incentive ~ in the need for in
creased revenues to liquidate war OBJ
legations; (2) in the necessity. after
Europe resumes normal production, OF
being in position to keep out cheap
marine problem links in here, for while
it appears that the United States will
soon have for immediate use an adj
vantage of shipping over the other
trade rivals, under the policy and
fixed standards of the United States
US about twice what the trade rivals
will pay for their ships, and our op-
Grating cost will be double theirs.
Some system must be inaugurated to
merchant marine the advantage.
The makeup Of the ways and means
committee that will frame the tariff
bill is an interesting study. Repre-
sentative Fordney will be chairman
and will have his name added to the
resentative ]. Hampton Moore ranks
next and then. in order, comes Repre-
sentative William r. Green OF Iowa;
Nicholas Longworth of Ohio. Whit
Hawley of Oregon and Allen T.
Treadway of Massachusetts,. There are
three vacancies existing on the COM
mittee through the death Of Repre-
sentative John A. Sterling Of Illinois
and the failure of Representatives
George W. Fairchi1d Of New York to
return to the next Congress. ~ With
the republicans organizing the COM
mittee that party will be entitled to
three more seats-making six to be
chosen.
Sections Represented.
It will readily be seen that, while
it Is already assured that the tariff
will be revised upward, much OF the
enthusiasm with which this is done will
depend upon the sections represented
The position Of Representative Martin
also merits brief mention. He was
put on the committee as pro-
gressive protectionist. but he was
forced to run as democrat In Louisi-
ana in the recent election. He is a
protectionist at heart and is counted
upon to support the higher tariff
rates proposed. There is doubt that
he will be listed as a republican on
the new committee This would make
on the committee.
New England. on account of IT'S in
dustrial activities, will get one and
possibly two new men on the COM
Massachusetts, now represents that
section. New England usually has had
two men on the committee when the
republicans were in power. Repre-
sentative John J. Rogers Of the tex
looked to as mighty good man. He
made one of the outstanding speeches
on the tariff a couple of years ago.
but, as Massachusetts, already has
Representative Treadway on the COM
mittee, Representative Rogers may
not be chosen. In that event some
members of the committee on COM
mittees feel that Representative Ed
ward H. Wason Of New Hampshire
ably will get one of the new. mem
bers. With Representatives Sloan
and Sterling both of, the great agri-
cultural interests of the middle west
tives. It is highly probable that Illi-
nois will get another member to sue
ceed Representative Sterling. In that
event one of the old-time members OF
the House doubtless will be selected.
The big manufacturing and agricul-
tural interests in the Illinois field are
sure of representation. Representa-
tive Martin j. Madden Is receiving
very favorable consideration. The se-
lection Of the men who will repre-
probably will be left to the state dele
cations and to sectional conferences.
The republicans have always been
careful to have the ways and means
and industrially because the tariff is
a national concern.
When the tariff bill comes up for
debate in the House it will have
stanch support on the republican side.
Representative James r. Mann, the
present floor leader, who probably
will be Speaker. is . strong protec-
ZIONIST. as are also all those who have
been mentioned as likely candidates
for floor leader In the next Congress.
Representative Sidney Y, Anderson Of
Minnesota. who Is . leader In de-
fense Of the agricultural interests,
was q member OF the ways and means
committee for some time and may de-
eide to return.
Voice Of Middle West.
The middle west. that registered
such a strong voice IN the rscsnt cleo