Evening star., 1921-12-08
TARIFF
ACTION IS URGED
Cotton Goods Manufacturers
Spokesman Point Out
Uncertainties.

Prompt action on the tariff bill was
asked today by spokesrnen for cotton
goods manufacturers appearing before
the Senate finance committee. Present
uncertainties. It was said, are pre-
venting the active operation of old
enterprises and the stimulation of
new ones.
Cotton manufacturers today are
operating on a day to- day basis and are
unable to look ahead and make plans
for future activity" said Arthur N
Lowe. speaking for Association OF Man
ufacturers, both north and south. We
meet the keenest competition in our
markets from Japan, England. Belgium
and other sections of Europe, where
long-established industries are paying
low wages
Present Protection Inadequate.
Declaring that the present Underwood
act does not afford proper protection to
the industry Mr.. Lowe said Congress
must look at the question in a broad
way.
'The textile industry is basic
one" he added, "and j cannot impress
too strongly upon this committee the
importance of its prosperity not only
of all the eastern states. but for the
spreading of prosperity throughout
the country.
Favoring the American valuation.
the witness said that unless his was
retained the Fordney bill would have
to be rewritten as to rates
III duty is put on dyes there
should be compensatory duty on
fabrics in which those dyes are used,
the witness declared. ut is really
not very scientific law which tries
to assist an industry by method
which regulates importations of an
article in its original form. but en-
courages importation of the same
article in a combined form.
Will Continue Hearings.
Hearings on the proposed tariff re-
vision will be continued through the
Christmas recess, with a view TO COM
pleting them by January l. Chairman
Penrose of the Senate finance COM
mittee announced. Rewriting Of III"
bill will start Immediately after the
new year begins, he said. The hear
ing dates have been arranged in &C
cordance with this. and the cotton
schedule Will occupy the remainder
of the week.
President Harding's suggestions for
flexible tariff rates and a provision
for proclaimed American valuation
apparently have been well received
by many of the republican members
of Congress charged with the draft
ing of tariff Legislation. but "A formal
utClsiOH on lneW DN lHt Stlldlt
finance committee is likely to be dc
ferred until the actual rewriting Of
the House tariff measure is started.
probably next month.
Conference L. Planned.
Chairman Penrose of tile Senate
committee plans to confer soon with
the leading republicans of the House
ways and means committee regard
ing the subject.
Senator
thought would have TO be given to the
manner of delegsting authority to the
President to change the rates or pro-
claim American valuation as the bass
for assessing duties as changing con-
ditions might warrant. Amendments
TO the House bill prescribing th.
means of making the grant of au-
thority already have been proposed
by Senator Smoot of Utah. member
of the committee, and these were
given study by members of the com
mittee as well as other senators and
by some members of the House.
Chairman Fordney of the House
ways and means committee, who Re-
turned to the city yesterday. said
he had not had time to study tho
Presidents suggestions and would
withhold comment. He did say. how
ever that from the first he had fa-
vored drafting q bill fixing minimum
and maximum rates. with authority
for the President to fix the amount
OF duties between tnOSe nSureS al
such intervals as conditions might
warrant change.
House Hearings Resumed.
Hearings on the House measure were
resumed yesterday by the Senate COM
mittee under a schedule which will
keep it in session almost every day
from now until the Christmas holi-
days.
Conflicting views as to any increase
in the duties on tobacco were express
ed by spokesmen for manufacturers
and growers. Senator Fletcher, demo
crat. Florida, speaking for the Cigar
Manufacturers Association of Tampa
and Joseph Cullman. jr.. of New York
city, representing cigar manufactur-
ers and the leaf tobacco trade gen
orally. opposed increases in existing
rates, while NJ. l.. Floyd of Hartford.
Conn. representing the New England
Tobacco Growers Association. urged
an advance in the import duty on
wrappers from the present slS5 per
pound to $3.50 a pound.