Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-16
Vote Probable Today

At the close of the days work,
Senator McCumber, Republican,
North Dakota, in charge of the bill,
said prospects were good for vote
tomorrow. A vote tonight had been
the object of the supporters of the bill
but they were thwarted by a series
of speeches, some extremely heated.
which delayed action on amendments.
After it became apparent that ac-
ton on the bill could not be COM
pleted tonight, Mr.. McCumber sought
to conclude consideration of all COM
mittee amendments. This plan, like
wise, suffered defeat.
Among the amendments accepted
by the Senate was the substitute
sugar schedule proposed by Senator
Smoot, Republican, Utah, for that
agreed upon by the committee. The
Smoot amendment would place the
tariff at one cent per pound in addi-
ton to the present duty of the same
amount, while the committee amend
ment to the House bill would have
added approximately three . cents
pound to the present rate.
The other amendments adopted by
the Senate would provide rates as
follows: Butter and butter substitutes
eight cents per pound; cheese and
substitutes % per cent. ad valorem;
fresh milk two cents per gallon and
cream. five cents per gallon. Ms
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Colo
RADIO, also voted against the Smoot
sugar duty, while 67 were recorded
for it. In joining with the support
ers of the bill to put over the sugar
amendment, Democratic opponents
of the measure claimed to have won
a point. which, it was said, will
eventually cause trouble for the
measures proponents. The near
unanimous votes, it was declared,
will force members of the Senate
conference committee to hold out to
the end against House conferees
when the bill goes to conference. The
House refused on three occasions to
add sugar to the commodities for
which protection was afforded and
leaders said there was no reason to
expect change in the sentiment.
Trite arguments and acrimonious
charges as well as logic character
lied the debate Senator Williams,
Democrat, Mississippi, held the at
tention of 10 senators for more than
an hour while he launched an at
tack on the whole tariff BILL
The Mississippi senator charged
proponents of the emergency tariff
with seeking to legislate money out
of the pockets of the public into the
pockets of those benefited by the
bill. He declared that the tariff pro-
visions on sugar were such as to
make any industry profitable, and
added:
II can raise bananas in New Jer-
sey, if you will give me tariff on
them. I'd sell them for dollar
banana That would be profitable
If the tariff was high enough, but the
government would be taking money
away from the other. people to keep
my hot house going.
Il say that all have belongs to my
government when it is for govern
mental purposes. nothing that have
belongs to my government for any
other purpose. That government has
no right to dabble in buccaneering
expedition. Besides, I would be un-
willing to have our industrial life
rest on the whims and caprices of
lot of politicians congregated here IN
Congress"
Senator Williams, as he waded
deeper and deeper into the arguments
against the measure, also moved
across the isle to where Senator
Smoot sat. Mr.. Smoot finally gave
way and in the place from which the |
senator many times has been heard
to preach the doctrines of high tariff
there was delivered an argument
Numerically opposed. 1t caused a
roar Of laughter to pervade the
usually. staid Senate chamber. but
did not disturb the speaker.