Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-12-23
Farm, !, .. Al 4
n.- spsA y, asSl.
DIS s'S'H .ootQ
House
Measure Imposing High Emer-
gency Tariff on Score of Ag-
ricultural Products Car
ries by 1916 to SO.
Fate in Senate Uncertain
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENN1NG

by ARl HUN SEAkS HENNlNG.
Chicago Tribune-Omahs Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, Dec. 22.-By a vote
of 1876 yeas and sc nays, the house
tonight passed the farmers relief bill
imposing a high emergency tariff
on score of agricultural products,
the decline in the price of which is
attributed in part by the farmers to
competition with importations.
The measure now goes to the SEN
ate where its fate is uncertain. 1t
will be taken up by the senate fl
nance committee after the holidays,
but the prolonged discussion made
possible for senate rules may COM
pass failure of passage.
Supporting the bill in the house
we're ls4 republicans, Al democrats.
and one prohibitionist. Opposing it.
70 democrats and n republicans. A
considerable number of republicans
from industrial sections severely
criticized the measure as class legis-
slation which would increase the cost
of living.
Democrats from Texas, Louisi-
ana, Florida and other states whose
products are furnished protection
under the bill, Joined with the repub-
hcans from agricultural regions in
its support. Their detection caused
them to be subjected to severe crit
icsm by Representative Henry T.
Rainey of Illinois. Representative
Garrett of Tennessee, and other
democrats who fought the measure
as in conflict with their party doc
trines.
No Change in Bill.
The bill went through without
change. In the case of each of the
commodities covered by the bill,
amendments were offered either re-
ducing the duties to the level of
the former Payne-Aldrich tariff law
or striking out the section entirely.
The items covered by the bill are
wheat, wheat flour, corn, beans,
peanuts, potatoes, onions, rice,
lemons, peanut oil, cotton seed oil,
cocoanut oil, soy bean oil, cattle,
sheep, fresh mutton and lamb, long
staple cotton and its manufactures,
and wool and its manufactures.
The bill is designed to apply to a
period of 10 months while the tariff
law is being completely revised.
Representative Fordney of Mich
igan, chairman of the ways and
means committee, expressed the
hope that at the beginning Of the
special session, either the Payne
Aldrich tariff law Or the Dingley
law would be re-enacted as an emer-
gency measure for the protection
Of all classes of industry pending
the passage of the revised bill.
Madden Opposes Bill.
Representative Madden of Illinois
was one of the republicans speaking
against the bill. He said that while
it was claimed that the wool grow
ers would benefit from the bill, the
actual effect would be to increase
the value of wool in the hands of
others than wool growers. He said
it would double the price of clothing
Representative Fordney of Mich
igan, chairman of the ways and
meals committee, led the fight for
the bill.
Information was brought to the
committee that 90 per cent of the
sheep on the western ranges are
mortgaged for SO a head, which is
more than they sell for in the pres
ent market" said Mr.. Fordney. "In-
formation was brought to the CON-
lnittee also that 90 per cent of the
cattle on the western ranges are
mortgaged for more than they will
sell for.
"The farmer today is suffering be-
cause of lack of protection for his
products resulting in an inability to
obtain anything like the cost of pro-
duction.
There is no possibility of passing
bill including all the economies ad-
vocated by some. The committee
has attempted to include the com.
modities most affected by the pres
ent situation"