Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-05
Tuesday, July S, 1921
THE TARIFF

TIE IRhIfF
The importance OF the tariff does
not loom so largely among the meas
ures by which the Government OBJ
tains its sustenance as It once did.
The new tariff bill is designed TO COL
lect duties to the amount of seven
million dollars, whereas the Govern
ment must find from some source be-
tween four and Ave billions annually.
1T is not supposable, however, that its
relation to the welfare OF business in
this country has diminished in like
proportion. II is a very vital neces-
sity to our prosperity.
BY reason of the fact that the i'm
position Of duties affects different in
terests that some of those interests
are Of special prominence in certain
localities, there must arise conflict
over schedules and there must be
concession and compromise before
the law may he finally written.
Present conditions make the
passage of tariff law unusually
d. fiicult. Foreign countries under
their low rates of exchange have an
advantage over us in that they are
able to produce more cheaply than
before the war as compared with
costs in our country. Not only are
they protected by rates of exchange
beyond the protection of any tariff
they might be able to arrange, they,
also. are driven by force Of necessity
TO invade the foreign markets.
Regarding these facts there can be
no dispute. they are known to all in
anyway acquainted With conditions
This docs not. however, imply that
there will not be radically different
conclusions respecting the methods
for meeting these inequalities. The
duty proposed on oil, for instance, is
causing some outcry. The oil pro-
ducing industry in this country de-
clarcs it will be unable to compete
with the low wages paid in other
countries, whereas the oil buyers are
saying that as We haven't enough oil
in this country to satisfy our needs
why encourage the diminution of the
home supply by encouraging it with a
protective tariff? In the preliminary
bill shoes are on the free list, and
many are apprehensive that this will
afford Germany an opportunity to cut
into our markets. Lumber, too, like
oil, is under dispute, some contend
ing that as we haven't enough why
encourage the cutting of what we
have by a duty on all imports of
lumber so needed for constructive
purposes But Canada imposes a
duty on our lumber and the bill as
drafted provides that the President
may, if he fails to secure the with
drawal Of that duty impose a duty
on finished lumber from the provinces
thus protecting the American manu-
facturer and laborer. These are but
few of the details to be threshed
out
The new bill, known as the Fordnev
Bill, is said to represent rather the
sentiment Of the Middle West than
that of the manufacturing interests
OF the East. Wheat is favored by a
rate OF - cents per bushel. corn Is
cents, potatoes A. cents on the 100 lbs.
ana eggs six cents a dozen in the
shell. III The case of wool it is said
the Fordney hiI affords protective
rate OF - Il as compared with rate
OF 50 under the Payne Aldrich bill.
The new measure also provides for a
different valuation Of articles and
that complexities the situation. ANY
attempt 20 arrive 1T a comprehensive
knowledge Of the measure should in
Guide = long and careful consideration
of II. in other words most of US will
want 30 Wait until tho schedules have
been aired in Congress before forming
our opinions respecting them. IL
seven hundred million dollars is to
come from this measure the duties
must not stop imports. and stopping
of imports must seriously interfere
with our struggle to gain in the for
elSn market. On the other hand it
will not 60 for as TO forget that the
best market in all the wide world. and
the one which the foreigner is seek
ing to evade. lies right within our
own domain.
Considering the fact that corn is
essentially an American product the