New-York tribune., 1919-05-24
Congress Plans
High her Tariff
To Aid Labor
Also Programme of Ways
and Means Committee In
cludes Repeal of Levies
Imposed on Semi-Luxur'ies
Ne,C York Tribune
Wn Q ehi11ntor Ruron,f

NeU I Ofk ITtOtne
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 23.-A move
ment for an upward revision of the
tariff by the present Congress is ready
for launching in the House, it was
learned to-day, notwithstanding the
statements of Senator Penrose and
other Republican leaders Of the Senate
that the time is not ripe for such ac-
ton.
The programme of the Ways and
Means Committee, q outlined by its
chairman, Representative Fordney of
Michigan, is first to repeal the semi
luxury taxes, then the soft drink taxes
and other levies that have been found
vexatious and dimcuit of collection
Thereafter the Presidents recommen-
dation for protection of the dye indus
try by high tariff barrier will be
undertaken. to be followed by hearings
on a complete revision of the tariff
schedules,
Hearings on the new tariff law prob
ably will begin late in July or early
in August. The primary purpose in
seeking tariff revision is not to make
up for the taxes that will be Topped
off this session by to protect Ameri-
can labor.
When European industry really gets
down to business, House Republicans
said to-day, it will afford the stfest
kind Of competition. In order to main
tain the high standards of living of the
American worker, it was argued high
protective tariff must be resorted to-
Three Men Behind 1t
Representative Fordney, Representa-
tive Longworth, of Ohio, and Repre-
sentative Moore, of Pennsylvania, are
behind the new move. They believe
the present tariff schedules should be
practically doubled. Under the pres
cnt law the tariff yields between $780,
100000 and $4OO,0 100000 annually. Re
it to yield between $700,O00,O00 and
$500, ,oOO, 900.
representative Longworth intro
duced a bill this Afternoon, which dou-
bles the present import duties on dye
stuffs. In explanation Of his bill he
issued the following statements:
THE object of the bill is to give leg
slative relief to the industry in this
country producing dyes and allec
chemicals without which it is obviou:
that it cannot survive when interna
tional competition is restored
"Since the war began probably more
~, -,
this industry, which is now competen
to supply practically all the needs O.
the American marke. Upon the con
cluson of peace, however, enormou:
quantities of dyes now manufactured
and in process of manufacture in Ger
many and other countries will be a
once dumped on the American market
with the result that probably 90 pc
cent of ou- industry will go to tn,
scrap heap.
This bill in its technical detail,
adopts the suggestions Of the tariff
commission, which has given very ex
haustive investigation to the working
Of the present law. In addition i
changes the present law in two impor
tant respects. 1t a little more thai
doubles the existing duties and strikes
out the provisions that the duties shal
be reduced yearly by 20 per cent fo
five years.
Although the rates suggested arr
only tentative, | am inclined to thnl
that if reinforced by strong anti
dumping provision they will be suffi
cient to maintain at least the grea
ktl ~ hn L.. l..
however. think total prohibition o
importation, except under license, i
necessary. The whole question viii
be carefully gone into by the Ways an
Means Committee, and if license sys
tenn be thought advisable it can
added to this bill"