Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-02-05
Four Amendments
To Fordney Tariff
Bill Are Adopted
Backers of Emergency Meas
ure See Signs of Passage in
Senate Some Time
Next Week.

Washington, Feb, 4.-The senate
got down to business with the
Fordney emergency tariff bill today
and before the session which con-
vencd at II o'clock ended, four
amendments had been adopted.
Votes on the amendments where a
record was made, showed support
ers of the bill to have majority
from 10 to IS.
AS the situation stood tonight, it
appeared that the bill would be for
the most part actually. as we'll as
technically, under consideration until
a final vote is reached. Senator
Penrose, republican. OF Pennsyl-
vania, in charge of the bill, declared
that it had good prospects OF pas
sage next week. I.
The committee amendment to cs-
tablish an import duty of 40 cents a
bushel on wheat was twice adopted
today. 1t was first tsken up with
only nine senator's i'll the chamber
and accepted without dissenting
voice. Then Senator Harrison. demo-
crat, Mississippi, one of the bitterest
opponents of the measure. discovered
what had happened and forced a
cali for a quorum. He said he was
under the impression the senate still
was considering a minor Indian
bill
Amendment Passes.
After the quorum call and all hour
of desultory debate, Senator Nc
Cumber, republican, North Dakota,
asked for reconsideration of the
wheat amendment and it again was
agreed to, by vote Of SO to 2S.
The amendment, also from the
committee, exempting from tariff
duty rice to be used in the manu-
facture of canned goods likewise was
adopted.
The committee amendments fixing
duties of 2 cents pound on fresh
and frozen meats and Of Is per cent
ad valorem on prepared or preserved
meats, and eXen1pting from import
duties, all live stock imported ex-
clusively for breeding purposes also
was approved.
Consideration of the, duty OH meats
brought from Senator Underwood of
Alabama, democratic leader, an at
tack on what he described as the
inquities OF the proposed legislation.
He assaulted the republican position,
whether republican sena-
tors had absolutely forgotten that
the government had need for reve-
nue." and whether the present bill
could be accepted as all indication
Of their intention to build tariff
wall about the co.:try during the /
extra session.
Consumption Tax.
The Fordney bill, Mr.. Underwood
asserted, could be construed as none
other than a consumption tax. He j
accused supporters of the bill of be- /!
ing willing to legislate money from
the consumers into the pockets OF !
spectators and quoted figures from
a summary OF tariff information,
compiled by the republican house
ways and means committee to show |
that imports so much complained OF
exist only in the air.
The program of the leaders to at |
tempt the fixing OF date for a vote |
went into the discard, temporarily.
with the arrival OF Senator Williams. /
democrat. Mississippi. who renewed ,
his declaration that he would not be
bound by any private agreements.
Mr. Williams spoke heatedly OF /
'machinations going on around
lere," adding:
Il would be fool to agree to
I do not believe in and
the result of which l al
-eady know"
The house ways and means COM
nittee concluded hearings-on the silk
schedule in its consideration of re-
vision of the permanent tariff. 1t
plans tomorrow to hear discussions
of tariff rates OH paper and. books.