The Washington herald., 1921-01-13
HIGH PROTECTIVE
TARIFF Sponsors
FIND WEAK POINTS
Need of Securing Mar
kets Abroad Changes
Situation.

Protestionists in the United States
Senate and House are finding It
rather difficult to make the peg fit
the hole. Republicans back in the
saddle once more with sufficient
strength to revise the tariff laws
Of the country are discovering rap
idly that protection of 1900 cannot
by any stretch of the imagination
be made the protection of 1920.
The rather limited hearings which
already have been held on the
emergency tariff have convinced
members of Congress. it was learned
authOritatively yesterday, that It
will be impracticable to start with
any Of the past Legislation as a
basis and that in writing the perma-
nent tariff act at the next session
clean start must be made.
Program Outlined.
The program for the special ses-
sion is as follows:
Enactment of a temporary tariff
measure. much more general than
the one now before the Senate COM
mittee, and which has virtually no
chance of becoming a law, to act
as a stopgap for industries of all
sorts, not merely the agriculturists.
Drafting of a permanent tariff
bill with the idea of having ii be-
come a law at the end of a years
time at the earliest.
The changed situation has been
forced primarily due to the awaken
ing consciousness in the Senate that,
as the hnanciers of the country have
said for some time, Europe cannot
repay it's debt to this country and
a market cannot be found for the
surplus of the United States unless
free flow of trade from abroad
continues.
Seek to Prove Point.
Men whose views are circum-
scribed by the viewpoint of their
own Industries have been seeking
to show Congress that it is vital
that the tariff wall be rebuilt in
order to prevent European dumping
upon our shores. They have ad-
vocated the re-enactment of the
Payne AldriCh tariff.
Congressional opinion is forming
with some solidity against this sug
gestion. It is not believed by the
membership of Congress that the
Payne-Aldrich tariff act can be
made to fit the existing situation.
The result, it appears now, will
be that the mantle Of protection
will be bestowed more sparingly
than heretofore. and only in those
cases where the life OF domestic
Industry cannot otherwise be pre-
served.
Senator Walter E Edge, of New
Jersey, ,championed the new order
in the Senate yesterday.
Says Times Change.
The most ardent protectionist. in
which class l believe ! can claim
full membership said Senator
Edge, must now recognize the un-
failing rule Of business, that to in
crease exports and thus encourage
an increased production and the
employment of labor we must re-
ceive payment in either cash or
goods in order that the wheels may
continue to 20 around.
ANY tariff which in effect acts
Indirectly. yet effectively. as an em-
barge against imports through eA-
change rates. or in any other way
would, with few exceptions, in my
Judgment. result only in closing
the market for American products;
would necessarily reduce prices to
the producers, where every effort
is apparently being made now by
Congress to increase them; would
depress the labor market, and GER
tainly would not result in that bust
ness prosperity and development
which full prosperity, full produC-
ton and world trade would natu-
rally bring about"