Arizona republican., 1920-12-18
PROTECTION FOR FARMERS MAY BE SOLVED BY HIGH IMPORT TARIFFS
Congressional Leaders Ad- vocate Emergency Tariff To Relieve Agricultural Interests Of Country
Republican 4. p. Leased WlreI

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Congrcs- sional leaders decided today that the way out of the mazo of farmer relief bills was enactment of an emergency tariff to run for one year and to act as an embargo against importations. lt would apply to wheat cotton, wool, bcas1s, potatoes livestock and meats Agreement of the legislative leaders was reported at a joint conference of members of the senate finance and house ways and means committees, at which the determination also was reached to press the proposed measure , 70 speedy passage. Actual drafting of ythe bill was started late in the day by members Of the ways and means com mitteo.
 Much discussion was evoked in the conference relative to a choice be- tween a flat embargo and a high tar iff, but tho house leaders held out against the employment of ban on importations fin peace time, urging that the agc-old custom Of no embargOes except in time of war be followed Senate members of tho conference de- clared that an embargo measure could he put through their branch of cou- gross more easily than high tariff bill but they finally assured the house conferees 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 em- boditA in the tariff measure was not directly discussed at the conference. Members of the house 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 intact Explanation was made that the reason the conference attempted no decision on rates was that such a discussion might have resulted fin a breach and the destruction of the whole program
 Tentative Bill Accepted
 Tho 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 relief tariff. Re- publicans. however, strongly opposed such a move, the contention being made that it would not be known whether the bill could be passed until tho final roll call and further that the measure might not go to the President in the form now proposed.
 A tentative bill by Representative Greene, Republican, Iowa, has been virtually accepted as the basis for the measure for which early passing will be sought. The ways and means com mittee probably will take it up early next week although several members began work on it immediately.
 Six senators and five representatives attended todays conference. They were Senators McCumber North Dakota, Smoot. Utah: Curtis. Kansas, and Wat son, Indiana. Republicans; and Sim mons, North Carolina, and Nugent Idaho, Democrats, and Representative: Fordney Michigan, chairman of tho ways and means committee; Long. worth, Ohio, and Green, Iowa, Re. publcans, and Rainey. Illinois apt Garner. Texas. Democrats.
 House members said tonight ther, were approximately $50 bills befor, the various committees at their enc of the capital. all aimed to afford pro lection for agricultural products an, give relief to the farmer in some forn or other. Dozens of them vary littl in form while others range from tn protection of one article to the com prehensive measures embracing pro lection through tariffs or embargoe on every product of the farm.
 It was believed the action of tn house leaders would not change plan 10 pass the senate resolution to reviv the war finance corporation.
 This proposition was described a being aside from the particular prob l lem which the house and senate ar etrying to solve in shielding the far1ne ] from falling prices.
 The action taken at todays join conference, however, developed a ne, fear among some house member While declaring the plan 10 pus through a tariff of embargo propor lions had their support, they expresse fear that other lines of business u1icF seek similar relief.