New-York tribune., 1920-12-28
Sharp Debate
Assures Tariff
Bill Filibuster'
Senate Democrats Fight the
Measure, but Fail to Have
1t Sent to Commerce Com
mittee as Embargo Plan
Goes to Finance Group
Opponents Quickly Adop,
Obstructive Tactics; Re
publicans Expect Defeat

From The Tribune's Washington Burecu
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The echoes
Of tariff debate reverberatcd in the
Senate Chamber this afternoon. 1t
was forerunner Of much discussion
this winter before the emergency bill
for tariff on agricultural products
can be disposed Of, and likewise fore
shadowed the exhaustive discussion on
tariff which every one anticipates in
the extra session. Democrats, led by
Senator Hitchcock, Of Nebraska as.
sailed the bill, which has Just been
sent to the Senate by The House, and
sought to have it referred to the Com
merce Committee instead of the Fin
ance Committee, on the ground that
it was an embargo bill and not a
revenue producing measure.
In the end the bill was referred to
the Finance Committee by unanimous
vote. though on test the Hitchcock
motion to refer to the Commerce Cor
mittee had IL votes to SO against it. The
test came on motion by Senator Nc
II.
The motion to table carried, 33 to IL
Six Democrats Ashurst, Beckham.
Henderson, Kendrick, Pomerene and
Sheppard - voted for the motion to
table.
Motions Merely Obstructive
Later Senator Pat Harrison. of Mis-
sissippi, moved to REFER to the Inter
state Commerce Committee, but with
drew the motion after he had had op-
portunity to speak against the pending
bill. In fact, it was recognized that
both the Hitchcock motion and his own
were made for purposes of delay and
opportunity of discussion.
Republican leaders generally re-
garded the attacks on the bill by Demo-
cratic Senator'S as the beginning OF a
tilibuster. Doubt of the bills passage
is widely entertained, even among Re
publlcans. Senator Smoot in debate
said the bill would pass unless there
developed on the other side a fiIibuster
against the bill"
Senator McCumber announced the
bill would be taken up in Che Finance
Committee Thursday. He said it could
not be prepared until after the holi-
days.
Believed to Forecast Veto
That the antagonism of Senator
Hitchcock and other Democratic Sena-
tors forecasts a Presidential veto in
the event of Senatorial passage Of the
bill is regarded as certain.
Senator Hitchcock urged reference
OF the bill to the Commerce Committee
on the ground that it was an embargo
Senator McCumber ASSURED Senator
Hitchcock the bill would have full
consideration.
Senator McCumber and Senator
Hitchcock fell into an exchange OF
opinions over Canadian wheat imports
Senator McCumber denied the pro-
posed wheat duty was extreme. He
said that, with allowance for differ
ence in exchange, the House allowed
wheat protection Of just 312 cents
per bushel
Senator Hitchcock described the
idea of protecting the wheat growers
IS either delusion and a snare or q
confidence game. He called the bills
policy suicidal.
I'VE shoaid be the last country in
the world to erect tariff barriers
against trade" said Senator Hitch.
| cock
ut is revenue MEASURE" said Sen
ator Smoot. "Wool is coming in ant
will come in. 1t isn't an embargo bill
in any sense of the word"
Senator Harrison declared the Hous
bill contained higher wool schedul
iuties than those in the Payne-Aldricl
bill
Senator Gerry, Of Rhode Island, sal.