The Washington herald., 1920-12-29
Problems of Great Import
Attached to the
Measure
INDUSTRY FAVORS
FOREIGN MARKETS
Feared Europe Might Re
taliate With Own
Tax Barrier.
By ROBERT BARRY.

We" tCOnOullC RellClett new poll
ticaI alignments and intrusion OF
international issues. affecting diplo-
matte RELATIONS. foreign credit ana
the merchant marine, are in pros
pect when the tariff discussions are
opened next week by the House
Ways and Means Committee, ac-
cording to members Of Congress
who have entered upon independent
inquiry into a legislative problem
that will be fought in washington
next summer.
Free trade doctrines by Northern
interests heretofore in the vanguard
Of the high protectionists, and the
South clamoring for cotton tariffs
are among the least OF the new sit
uations to confront Republican lead
ers. Powerful commercial groups
are to urge upon Congress that for
eign markets and not protection
are essential. II became known
yesterday that automobile manufac-
tUrers. TO be heard on January Is.
want existing duties OF the Under
wood tariff lowered. They hope for
low reciprocal duties, especially
with their principal European buy
ers.
Steel Lobbying.
Steel, prime factor in making
Pennsylvania a Republican strong
hold. is leaning to free trade, ac-
cording TO letters received at the
Capitol. The steel men want for
eign markets. T,ny do not require
tariff protection TO meet foreign
competition but they do fear high
Tetalitory duties against their prod
ucts in return for American duties
On principal export commodities
which Europe would like to sell
here.
off-hand. it is stated, a like posi-
tion is assumed by typewriter, cash
register. sewing machine, adding
machine ma manufacturers and some
branches of the boot and shoe trade.
Those oaonomical developments
considered apart from ether tarin
problems would not attract such
notice at the Capitol, as the causes
yield so readily TO analysis. The
new factors are causing the cloak
rooms to buzz with gossip. specula-
tion and anxiety. When forty -ons
Democratic members Of the House
vote for. tariff duties considerably
higher than those OF the Payne-Ai-
drich act, politicians begin to pom
Ter over what is happening in the
L. S. A
Tariff Convention.
On the heels Of that House vote
last week on the Fordney bill. comes
kra 81
Atlanta late in January by the Pro-
tective Tariff League. The call for
the convention was signed by gov
ernors of eighteen Southern and
Southwestern States. Invitations
have been sent TO Harding and Cool
idge to address the convention
Harding is said 70 be giving serious
thought to a proposal to arrange
his departure for Florida so as to be
in Atlanta for the engagement. Cool
idge has indicated a lesire 20 ad-
dress the convention II Harding re-
quests. Some Of the hard boot
Democrats of Georgia, noting the
presence of a Republican President
elect addressing a Southern body on
protective tariff issue. doubtless
would expect Thomas jefferson .
spirit TO haunt the hall.
Another phase OF the Republican
problem is the attitude OF RepubIi-
can Senators from grain producing
sections. The socalled whest Sena-
tors are clamoring for the Fordney
emergency bill. yet il was DoIliver,
Rristow, LaFollette. Gronna ana
others who fought against such
duties in 1909 and 1913.
Back of these elements in the
tariff situation = seen soroefhfpr-
OF the causes which prompt Sena-
tor Boies Penrose, of Pennsylvania
to object to the ''popgun" tArfT
Legislation that a considerable body
OF the House and many Republican
Senator's would like 20 enact post
haste. Penrose has been urging
caution IN tariff matters for eigh-
teen months. Some of his friends
in the Senate now are beginning TO
agree with him. Yet Penrose will
have difficulty with some of his
old tariff cronies. The steel alloys
present a pertinent example. The
West wants high protection for the
tungsten, Ignite and other war in-
dustries, but the steel manufac-
turers are opposed TO such duIies-
1t was the conflicting Influences
which caused the Senate to delay
action on special bills carrying
such protection at the previous ses-
sion. Penrose is REPRESENTED as view
ing the larger aspects OF the whole
tariff problem and accordingly con-
cluding It is inadvissble TO try TO
enact piecemeAl Legislation. when
the ramifications TO all tariff meas
ures must be considered sensibly
and seriously before a bill is writ