Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-12-24
CONGRESS FRONTED
WITH BIC PROBLEM
As To FARM RELIEF
Hopper Is Full Of Suggestions OF
Legislation of Remedial
Character.
By RI. c. c. Bryant
to The Daily Tribune.

Special to The Daily Tribune.
Washington. Dec. 23.-The problem OF
affording relief to farmers from condl-
tions Of which they have complained Tor
several months " developing rapidly,
into the first important controversy Oh
the short session of congress when, on
the surface, has enjoyed state oi
harmony since convening.
Farmers and their representatives re-
fuse to be contented to wait for remedial
legislation until the new administration
comes into effect March 4, as has been
decided upon respecting proposals Tor
revision Of the tax laws and other mat
tars liable to be the subject OF contro-
versy. They want something done at
once.
Batch of Relief Bills.
The legislative hopper has been filled
with bills and resolutions since Decem-
ber 6 containing suggestions for reheT-
ing credit and marketing difficulties
Numeroushearings and speeches on the
general subject have occupied attention
Of senate and house and various COM
mittees to exclusion Of many other sub
jects.
Leaders took cousel among themselves
and with President elect Harding as to
what program should be attempted TINS
session. He endorsed the plan to take
up general tariff revision January u.
Repeal Of the war laws and suspension
of immigration were the only measures,
aside from regular appropriation bills,
that were decided upon for enactment
this winter.
Western Members impatient.
Western members who promised their
farmer friends relief at the earliest
possible moment have been growing i'm
patient several days with the evident
intention to hold up all legislation, vlr-
tually. until the Harding administration
started. Pressed from back home for
action. and facing criticism for failing
to provide remedies. they resolved to
take drastic steps Thursday all repre-
sentatives west of the Mississippi held
a meeting 1t was NOT limited to Renub-
IiCans Democrats of the west. southwest
and south were invited with view to
pull. and a pull altogether, 70 force
some action
Do Not Fear Wilson.
The net result is decision to press
FOR emergency high protection to last for
one year or until general tariff revision
can be accomplished. The advocates of
remedial legislation believe they should
not halt on the fear or belief in some
quarters that President Wilson would
Il
inasmuch as he has advocated protection
of the dye stuffs industry he will consent
to emergency tariff rates on agriculture,
They hope to secure strength from
among southern Democrats who are in
terested in livestock. beans. sugar, rice
and some other products. as would be
included in the emergency measure.
Seek Democratic Support.
y
70 the ways and means committee that
are counted on bringing Democratic sup
port These hold that the Underwood
Simmons tariff act is not bringing in
The customs intended when that measure
was written because If the abnormally
low rates Of exchange abroad. The Eng
hsh pound sterling the French frame,
the Italian lire and the German mark
are worth far less than the American
dollar When an American buys mer-
chandse in these countries and brings il
here duties are levied at the ports On
the value abroad When the English
pound sterling was worth $2.49. as il was
recently compared with it's normal value
Of about S4.ST. the American purchaser
bought merchandise amounting 10 about
900 pounds there but being S3,490 in
American money The goods came 10 the
American port and taFift was levied AZ
the latter value. 1t was proposed to levy
an Increased rate 10 more nearly equalize
the foreign value with that Of this coun-
try and thus collect moro revenue and
provide more protection.
Dumping Foreign Products.
Conditions are similar respecting mcr
chandisn from other countries, and. it
Is claimed, foreign products are being
dumped over here to tho injury IF west
ern agriculture and products Of manu-
featuring enterprises.
The proposal for an cqualizing tariff
has not met with the favor hoped for by
it's advocates The general turn Of opin-
ion is toward an emergency tariff for II
months to be- applied only on agricul-
tural products. Advocates Of this legis