Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-03-25
President and Cabinet Alarmed
at Situation of AgriCul-
turaI interests.
LONG CONFERENCE IS HELD
Meeting of Chief Executive and His
Official Family Lasts More Than
Two Hours-Secretary Wal
lace Leads Discussion.

washington, March 21.--American
agriculture is facing its gravest danger
from the flood of foreign importations
pouring in practically free of duty.
This was the unanimous opinion of
President Harding and his cabinet fol-
lowing their longest conference since
the new administration took office.
The meeting of the President and
his official family lasted more than
two hours. most of the discussions re-
lating directly to proposed means for
preventing what was declared to be
the impending agricultural crisis.
Unless all indications fail, the Pres
ident, in his first message to congress.
will insist that legislation to relieve
the situation be given precedence
over all other business.
The President stated that he was
'qOath to resort" to war powers con-
ferred upon him by the trading with
the enemy act, which would enable
him to place an embargo on agricul-
tural imports. This law has not been
repealed. Rather, he will look to con-
gress for the early enactment of emer-
gency tariff legislation which will save
the situation by placing heavy duties
on agricultural products.
With Secretary of Agriculture Wal
lace leading the discussions, the cab
met went exhaustively into the situa-
ton. which discloses that:
/. Millions of tons Of wool and 9TH
er products are being poured into the
country practically free of duty.
2. Foreign exporters are piling up
huge stocks of their goods in ware
houses here. taking advantage of
favorable exchange rates.
The President declared that this
situation, dangerous in itself, assumed
tremendous proportions when it was
found that it actually threatened the
agricultural self-sufficiency" of the
country. American farmers and live
stock raisers, unable to combat the
influx of foreign importations, are
abandoning or cutting down their in
terests. This was found to result di-
rectly in great reduction of Ameri-
can agricultural productivity.
There clearly must be some inn
mediate relief of the agricultural sit
uation, or we shall lose our tlocks and
our herds" was the way in which one.
cabinet member described the danger.
Members of the cabinet, in their
discussion with the President, found
that agricultural products and live
stock from Europe and South America
could be laid down on the Atlantic
seaboard at prices cheaper than are
charged by farmers in the Middle
West Despite this fact, the ultimate
consumer was reaping little or no
benefit in the form of reduced prices.
The element of high transportation
charges figured largely in the cabinet
discussion, it was learned. Importa
lions Of frozen beef and mutton COM
ing all the way from Australia and
New Zealand are being sold here in
large quantities at much less cost
than western producers can supply,
after transportation charges have
been added
Many sections of the country have
been practically denuded of herds of
sheep and cattle because of this con-
dition, it was found. 1t was the unan-
imous opinion OF the President and
the cabinet that the first necessity
vas the placing of heavy duties on
agricultural and live stock imports
pending the enactment by congress Of
permanent protective tariff.
President Harding expressed regret
mat the emergency tariff legislation
passed at the last session, but vetoed
oy President Wilson, was not In ef-
rect at this time. 1t is strongly in
ulcated the President will insist that
similar legislation win occupy the full
attention Of the new congress. even
70 the extent Of holding up tax and
revenue revision.
Mr. Harding refused to approve the
legislative program agreed upon by
l'he Republican members Of the SEN
a'e finance committee and house ways
ana means committee early this week.
because 1t did not provide for emer-
sency tariff legislation to protect the
farmers.
Inc senator's and representatives
"ere opposed to an emergency tariff
.oLu except an anti-dumping measure
WIN an amendment to the existing
arm law providing for the collection
az valorem custom duties on the
ssss OF American valuation, rather
'uan on the foreign valuation.