The New York herald., 1921-03-13
HARDING BELIEVED
AGAINST PLAN FOR
STOP-GAP TARIFF
House Leader Mondell Out
in Opposition to 1t After
Visit to President.
MAY WATT UNTIL FALL
Many Others Indorse His
Proposal to Concentrate on
Revenue Revision.
SUBSTITUTE rs OFFERED
Anti-Dumping Bill and New
Scale for Estimating Tariff
Are Suggested.
SUBSTITUTE rs OFFERED

sceo.aI p.spatch TO THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. O., March IL.
Opuosition to enactment OF an emer-
rency tariff bill as the first Work OF
the new Congress was voiced to-day
nv Representative Mondell (Wyo),
Republican leader Of the House, after
n conference with President Harding.
Unusual significance is attached 10
Mr. Mondells statement because there
are indications that 1t is the beginning
If a strong movement in both houses
o kill all stopgap tariff proposals
Other Representatives who have
conferred with the President have
ga.ded the impression that he IS not
an enthusiastic supporter, to say the
least, Of the plan for an emergency
tariff based largely on the Payne
Aldrich rates of 1909. The feeling
among many Republicans is that 1t Is
unwise to tamper with tariff rates at
this time when world conditions are
30 unS6tIltu, dllQ lAlAb - WoaA0 - -
better policy to start Immediately upon
revision OF revenue laws.
Mr. Mondells views mainly are In op-
position to those expressed by Chairman
Penrose of the Senate Finance Commit
tee, who stated recently that there has
been a great need for emergency tariff
legislation and that it should be the first
work of the new Administration The
question probably will be settled at
conference OF the Republicans of the
Senate Finance Committee and the
House Ways and Means Committee with
Secretary Mellon next Monday.
Mondeu Has Substitute.
In his statement Mr.. Mondell cx-
pressed doubt that a stop gap tariff bill
along lines Of the Payne-Aldrich bill
could be passed promptly. He suggested
an anti-dumping measure and resolu-
ton providing calculation OF the present
tariff rates on the American value and
not the foreign value OF products might
be passed. The latter proposal is to
take care OF the low exchange rates.
'One of the important questions is
allied questions of tariff and revenue"
said Mr.. Mondell. 1T has been sug-
gested in certain quarters that 1t would
be wise to take UP some measure, for
instancethe Payne-Aldrich bill, modify a
few of its provisions. such as schedule X,
and passing it as an emergency measure.
The suggested programme would be 10
follow that with revenue legislation and
follow that in turn with a permanent
tariff bill which might not become
law until the regular session.
Personally / am somewhat doubtful
of the wisdom of that policy. II II were
possible to take the Payne-Aldrich bill,
for instance, ano with few changes
pass il speedily through House and SEN
ate so 1t would be on the statute books
In six weeks or two months after we
met, / think perhaps It would be wise
to do IT,
But have grave doubts that this can
be done. am not at all certain that
such a bill would not, when II reached
the Senate. be opened up for q great
variety of amendments and be delayed
for considerable time in its passage, 50
that instead OF procuring what ie sug-
gested-prompt action on a temporary
bnl--we might instead find the Congress
considering for months measure which
starting as a ternprary measure, might
finally come TO be considered as a per-
manent measure and entirely made over
II would thus lose the benefits OF quick
action. which Is the only real virtue Of
temporary measure We would also
lose In what would become the per1na-
To All ~.
the bill as permanent measure rather
than as a temporary measure.
would Take Up Revenue Laws.
II realize the Importance OF getting
n tariff bill on the statute books at the
very earliest moment, and If 1 felt that
we could Introduce. pass and have
signed very promptly temporary meas
ure, / would be glad TO favor Il, even
though II were not an ideal tariff bill.
but having serious doubts that this can
be accepted. am inclined TO the opinion
that tho Ways and Means Committee
should get 70 work soon on a permanent
tariff measure.
'Tn the meantime they should SUBJ
init and we should pass through the
House such revision Of the revenue laws
ms seem wise. The Senate would then
be occupied in consideration Of the rev.
enue Dill Wnlie thc house committee
was concluding preparation Of the per-
manent tariff bill
'If we should pursue this course We
should be able TO put through a revision
OF the revenue laws and permanent
revision OF the tariff before We adjourn
the special session, say about August 4
III any emergency measure Is possible
IN advance Of the permanent tariff. II
seems 20 me II must be confined TO a
simple anti-dumping provision and pos
sibly an amendment TO the present tariff
basrng rates on American rather than
on foreign values. Such a measure
would be OF value in saving the situa-
tion during the period of consideration
OF a permanent measure.
while passage OF a tarir hnf
highly important and should bo aenePl
at the earliest possible datf. 10
important TO let the peorl NugN
soon as possible the exteni it ahic
they are to be relieved Kor tsf ufe
rent calendar year OF the N9rdtN tf
Federal taxation"