The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-18
Emergency Legislation to Help
Producers Being Pushed.
Senate Committee Members
Even Favor EmbargOes.
WOULD SLAM U. S. DOORS
Congress VIII Raise High Bar
rier Against Foreign Foods.
ReappOrtionment for the House
Makes As New Members.

Washington, Dec. 1s.-The framing
of an emergency tariff bill on agricul-
tural products was started today by
the house ways and means COMMITTEES.
The duties. Chairman Fordney saia.
will be so high as to virtually prohibit
importations.
The committee today voted to make
the proposed emergency tariff legisla-
ton applicable to wheat, flour, corn,
beans. cattle, mutton and lamb. sheep.
wool, clothing, peanuts, vegetable oils,
potatoes and onions.
The committee will meet later to-
day to endeavor to work out tariff
schedules, which are certain to be SO
high that they will prohibit importa-
tion. Committee members said it is
possible that other products viii be
added to the list. Several of these
products named are now on the FREQ
list under the Democratic tariff
Embargoes Favored.
Tho senate committee members pre-
fer an absolute embargo against i'm
portation of certain commodities as
the surest and speediest way of grant
ing the relief needed, a concession in
form may be ms lie in the house by
having the bill provide for prohibitive
tariff rates on the commodities to be
protected instead of putting an abso-
| lutte embargo on them.
In either case, members of both
house and ,nate COMMITTEES. said the
! effect would be to shut out of the
| United States such articles as the leg
| islation covered This. the theory is.
would create a domestic market for
surplus stock of wool, wheat bears
potatoes. livestock and meats.
With foreign competition in these
commodities eliminated for a year.
American producers would get a
| chance to sell the stocks and crops.
VIII Increase House.
Drafting of bill for reapporfion-
| ing the membership in the house in
tne basis OF the increases in popula-
I ton shown in the 1920 census was be-
| gun today by the census committee
\ pursuant to decision reached by Re
publican members at a caucus last
night to rush thru. such legislation at
the present session of congress-
! While no definite numerical basis
Tor the reapportionment is understood
TO have, been reached, a bill already
introduced by Representative Siegel of
| New York, chairman of the census
committee. increasing the house mem
bership from 435 to 4S3. was expected
to be used as basis in framing the
| legislation.
The first test vote in the house on
| the senate resolution to revive the war
finance corporation in an attempt to
increase export trade and the price OF
| farm products, indicated that it would
pass by large majority.
Let Press Use Navy Radio.
Consideration Of a resolution to a.
| low all naval radio stations to accept
press messages will be started by the
house merchant marine and fisheries
| committee next. Wednesday, Represen-
tative Green, Massachusetts. said to-
day
The resolution was introduced by
/ Representative Britten, Illinois. At
present. the navy cannot accept mes
sages between points where private
companies operate.
Il believe that the American press
should at all times be ENCOURAGED in
its efforts to send American news into
other paris of the world and to collect
news of other countries from an
American viewpoint" said Britten.
The recent communications confer
ence showed that obstacles face the
United States. in communication"