Evening star., 1921-03-12
QUICK ACTION SEEN
IN PASSING TARIFF
Penrose Thinks House Will
Put Through Protective Bill
Soon After Conveninq.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

Indication comes through Senator
Penrose, who, while not the tactical
floor leader of the-majority party in
the Senate. is acknowledged as the
potential force in tariff and tax legis-
lation. as chairman of the committee
on finance and by virtue of his own
personality. of the probable course as
to the tariff bill.
If his forecast works out. the House
at the extraordinary session will sue
ceed in passing a tariff bill within a
fortnight after assembling. This
prophesy of his has significant bear
tariff legislation now will be of a ma
ture temporary.
He says it will follow closely the
lines Of the old Payne-Aldrich act, to
keep the bars Of protection up until
Europe's affairs are adjusted, until
costs are stabilized, until exchange
settles to a firm basis and it will be
possible to have definite guiding
marks in making a tariff which will
cover the difference in cost Of produc-
tion here and in competing with for
eign countries.
Senator Penrose is inclined to think
that a scientific tariff will not be
created until after the Congress cleo
tions next year. The republican party
has had at least one bitter experience
in revising the tariff on the eve Of a
Congress erection.
No Fenr for Senate.
Wbap tho hin pomec the
| Senator Penrose has faith that it can
be passed without unreasonable de-
| lay He asserts that it will be pass
ed by a united republican party, and,
| what is more, a disciplined repub-
| lican party. By that he means party
! action in unison with the will of the
! great majority of II, and the conse-
| quent submerging Of individual and
| sectional special interests.
| While the experience with the tenn
porary tariff bill might not be regard
| ed as holding out hope for such har-
monious action, it is pointed out that
/ there was never any real expectation
that the bill would become law. and
! senators were afforded more latitude
| than they can expect when the SEN
ate gets down to the preparation of a
bill intended to become law.
| The republicans are united in the
| conviction that tariff measure is
! essential to protect American indus
! tries during the period Of reconstruc-
| tion in Europe, and that the sooner
| in is nut on the statute books the
| earlier will conditions become sta
biliZed in home industries, and costs
I will seek settling place.
| Republicans Must Unite.
| In fact, the condition confronting
| the republicans in Congress is classed
as a case Of 'must"-they are sim
ply compelled to get together and the
| only way the leaders see to do it in
the Senate will be through sacrifice
and discipline by party caucus.
/ Some senators Of the mind of SEN
ator Lodge, the floor leader, appre-
hend that the passage or stop
| gap" bill will be confession OF
weakness that the republican party
is not competent to handle a tariff
bill. but Senator Penrose and his fol-
lowers do not run along with this
fear.
The point is made that speedy action
on the tariff. in addition to the rea.
son assigned, is necessary in order
to clear the way for the tax reform
bill. There is difference of opinion
as TO what really "ails" business
Some manufacturers claim that 1T is
the tariff, while admitting that ex.
cessive taxes burden them almost 10
extinction, but other big business" is
emphatic in the charge that taxes
are eating them alive" and they
must have relief, tariff or no tariff
Senator Penrose and his substantial
following are determined in Opposi-
ton to any temporary makcshift tC
allow the President to designate
duties or to give that power to the
tarih commission or any other body