New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Tariff ON Farm
Imports Agreed
To in Congress
Leaders Recommend Virtual
Embargo Agains, Wheat,
Cotton, Meats, Etc, for
One Year to Aid Tillers
Speedy Passage Predicted
Emergency Relief Measures
Rates To Be Determined
by Committee of House

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Congres-
sional leaders to-day decided that the
way out of the maze of farmer relief
bills was enactment of an emergency
tariff TO run for one year and to act
as an embargo against importations.
1t would apply to wheat, cotton, wool,
beans, potatoes, livestock and meats.
Agreement of the legislative leaders
was reached at joint conference OF
members of the Senate Finance and
House Ways and Met :, Committees, at
which the determination also was
reached to press tie proposed measure
to speedy passage. Actual dl afting Of
the bill was started late in the day by
members Of the committee.
uch discussion was evoked in the
conference regarding choice between
8 fat embargo and high tariff, but the
House leaders held out against the en-
ployment of ban on importations in
peace e, urging that the agc-old
custom Of no embargoes except in time
of war be followed. Senate members
OF the conference declared that an en-
barge measure could be put through
their branch of Congress more easily
than a high tariff bill, but they finally
assured the Hous con1erees that they
would use all of their influence to push
the measure through as soon as it was
received from the House.
The subject of the rates to be en-
bodied in the tariff measure was not
directly discussed at the conference.
Members of the nouse committee,
which will draft the bill, were informed
that the rates would be left entirely
to them and that whatever they were
able to have passed by the House, the
Senate conferees would try to keep in
tact. Explanation was made that the
reason the conference attempted no
decision on rates was that such a dis
cussion mi GIT have resulted in breach
and the destruction of the whole pro-
gram.
The suggestion was understood to
have been made by Democratic mem
bers Of the conference that they seek
an expression of views of the President
with respect to the re ief tariff. Re-
publ cans, however strongly opposed
such move. the contention being made
that it would not be known whether
the bill could be passed until the final
roll call, and further that the measure
might not go to the President in the
form now proposed.
Tentative Bill Drafted
A tentative bill by Representative
~
practically accepted as the basis for
The measure for which early passage
will be sought. The Ways and Means
Committee probably will take it up
early next week, although several mem
bers began work on it Immediately.
Six Senators and FIVE Representa-
tives attended to-day's conference.
They were Senator'S McCumber, North
Dakctn; Smoot. Utah; Curtis Kansas,
and Watson, Indiana. Republicans. and
Simmons. North Carolina. and Nugent,
Idaho Democrats, and Representatives
Fordney, Michigan, chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee; Long
worth. Ohio. and Greene, Iowa. Repub.
licans. and Rainey, Illinois, and Gar
ner. Texas, Democrats.
House members said tonight there
were approx mately $50 bills before
various committees at their end Of the
Capitol, all aimed to afford protection
for agricultural products and give re-
lief to the farmer in some form or
other. Dozens of them vary little In
form, while others range from the pro-
lection Of one single article to com
prehensive measures embracing pro-
lection through tariffs or embargoes
on every product Of the farm.
Others May Seek Relief
It was believed the action Of tho
House leaders would not change plans
to pass the Senate resolution TO revive
the War Finance Corporation. This
proposition was described as being
[e.~