Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-23
"POP-GUN" TARIFF
BILL BARRAGE IS
STARTEDBYG.O.P
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Leased Wire Service to The Journal
Copyright, 1o20)

Copyright, 1e2O.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-The
days of the pop gun" tariff bill are
here again, but this time the RepubIi-
cans instead of the Democrats are
planning to lombard the White
House with tariff measures they
know cannot possibly get executive
approval.
Unquestionab1y there is a clamor
for tariff revision and it comes from
scattered sections of the country
where economic theory and economic
fact are at odds and the producers
feel that a tariff will help them
against foreign competition. But the
Republican party which controls
both houses of congress always has
been the part yof tariff protection
and it has been impossible to answer
the demand for tariff legislation by
simply saying President Wilson
would not permit tariff proposals to
become law. So the Republicans
have about decided to square them
selves with their constituents and
demonstrate that the White House is
the real obstacle after all.
MOI viewed seriously
Some of the tariff measures being
proposed have been so hastily con-
ceived that if President Wilson did
sign some of them, there would be a
shock on capitol hill THAT would be
heard round the country. For the
Republicans frankly do not expect
Mr.. Wilson to sign protectionist
Gratis expected Mr.. Taft to approve
them in the fall of 1911 when the
Democrats had obtained possession
of the house and began to fire "pop-
gun" tariff bills at Mr.. Taft with
tariff duties reduced to some unwork-
teresting to recall that when the
Democrats obtained full possession
in 1912 of all branches of the gov
eminent, including the executive,
they didn't offer the same set of
tariffs bills upon which they had
tirely new set, much more carefully
considered and carrying a higher
scale of duties.
Another interesting side1ight on
the situation is that the people who
really have sponsored most of the
do not regard the present tariff dis
cussion seriously. Their lobbyists
aren't even on the job. The truth is
the Republicans had a genuine I'M
Outstanding that nothing would be
attempted in the present session of
congress and notification to that eff
feet was conveyed to all the Inter-
ests affected.
Agitation Started
However, the farmers came to
Washington and through their nu-
merous organizations started the
present tariff agitation in the hope
that something immediate might be
done to cure the financial crisis in
the agricultural world. Manufacture
ing interests Of the east are not a
bit pleased over the invasion by the
farmers and secretly hope the whole
tariff effort will be blocked at this
session of congress.
1t is pointed out, for instance, by
manufacturers who don't want ne
farmers are inconsistent in demand
ing the revival of the war finance
corporation to finance the export of
farm products while at the same
time they would impose tariff
amounting to an embargo on the i'm
portation of farm products. It is
insisted that by reciprocity alone can
foreign trade be stimulated and that
the rates of exchange will not i'm
prove until America manifests more
of give and take spirit in making
tariff duties.
The whole question Of reciprocal
trade measures is expected to be
revived as a consequence of the alb
normal trade conditions. Otherwise
the foreign countries, it is suggest
ed, will impose retaliatory tariffs
and America will not be able to sell
abroad in free competition with 9TH
:er countries which do not impose
high tariffs.
New Alignment Seen
M0ronyas al ON ma ho
looked for when the Fordney tariff
bill just reported in the house of
representatives gets over to the SEN
ate. Instead of finding a natural
Democratic and Republican division,
the prospects are that the eastern
Republicans, representing large man
ufacturing and banking communities,
will have different viewpoint from
that of the agricultural west and
south. There is no certainty that
any tariff measure could be passed
in the present senate. where the Re-
publican majority is slender, but a
coalition of west and south, such as
passed the recent resolution reviv-
ing the war finance corporation, of
course, is possible. But the south
ern senators are divided on the tar
iff question and the Fordney measure
may remain the pop-gun effort of
only one house instead Of congress
as whole. In any event, the pub
lie can rest assured that nothing vi
tai on the subject Of tariff revision
will be done until special session
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