The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-07-20
DUTY ON RAW COTTON
AROUSES DEMOCRATS
Fordney Tariff Proposal Regarded AS
Joker by Minority. Question of
Oil Also Disturbing.

days rest the house will enter to-
morrow the last week of considera-
tion of the Fordney tariff bill with
what has come to be regarded as the
most highly controversial Of all para
graphs in the measurc-thc duty on
oil-staring it in the face.
Under the special rule governing
consideration of the tariff bill, a
final vote is due late Thursday. In
the meantime, however, the house has
to dispose of the oil question and
take separate votes on raw cotton and
asphalt Whether cotton should be
transferred to the dutiablc list pre-
scnts another problem likely to bring
storm session and leaders said it
probably would be a repetition of the
fight for a duty on hides.
Democratic members Of the house
from cotton growing states announc-
cd after informal conferences today
that almost a solid party vote would
mcnt to the Fordney tariff bill provid-
ing duty of 10 per cent ad valorcm
on raw cotton.
Regarded as Joke
Outlining the position of the mi
nority, Representative Garrett of
Tennessee, acting Democratic leader,
declared the "iniquity of the propo-
sal was glaringly apparent" in view
Of hn 70 Of TO un.
Green of Iowa, ranking Republican
member of the ways and means COM
mittee, that it would not increase the
price paid the farmer for his product.
Mr.. Garrett added that "thc only use
for the tax was to enable Republicans
to increase the duty on cotton goods"
amidst SO many jokcrs in the
Fordncy BILL" said Mr.. Garrett in a
statement, "it is we'll nigh impos-
siblc to say which is the supcrlativc
one, but certainly the proposition to
put a duty on all raw cotton--when
none is imported, and the treasury
can derive no duty thcrcby-is at
least as great as any.
"To bring it Immediately home to
the cotton farmer, a duty on raw
cotton will give nothing by way Of
increase in price, but it will be made
the excuse for raising the duty and,
therefore, the price upon everything
made of cotton which he has to buy.
"In framing the tariff bill the ways
nj 4 tcn l.n ~ ni
ton on the free lst-whcrc it was in
the old Payne Aldrich bill. When the
Republican caucus took the bill III
hand, however, Il fight led by South.
crn Republicans was made to tax cot
ton, some of the advocates of this
move asserting it would help break
the solid South"
No Foreign Competition
Declaring that the bulk Of the
American crop Of cotton was export
ed and that not more than 100000
bales of long staple or Egyptian cot
ton was imported in any year, Mr..
Garrett asserted that on short staple
cotton the South had absolutely no
competition for scarcely a bale Of it
was imported.
"And now it is proposed, in view
Of production and import records, ("
he said, 'to impose duty Of 10 per
cent on all cotton. Why? The Ford
ncy joker lies in the fact that when
the house votes in the 10 per cent ad
valorcm on raw cotton, the committee
on ways and means will immediately
follow it with amendments upon the
cotton manufacturers schedule raising
the duties affixed upon them in the
bill from II per cent up--m other
words, they will give the compcnsa-
tory duties and increase cost ot every
single article manufactured from cot
ton"
The cotton tax, under the special
rule by which the bill is being con
sdcrcd in the house, will be taken
up for vote Tuesday. Regardless Of
the outcome then, there will be
another vote on the proposal prior to
final passage of the measure Thurs
day night.