New-York tribune., 1921-07-10
Tariff Called
sProI1ibitive' In
House Debate
Democrats Contention Is
Fordney Bill Will Keep
the Foreign Nations From
Paying Borrowed Billions
Republican Reply Made
Minority Members Said To Be
Embarrassed by Country
Wide Protection Demand

From, The TribNne's Wnshiagto, BureuH
WASHINGTON, July 9.-Resumptior
to-day of the debate in the House or
the Fordney tariff bill brought the for
NAL opening of Democratic attack on
the measure. Representative John
Garner, of Texas, ranking Democrat OF
the Ways and Means Committee, made
the keynote speech He declared that
the rates Of duties in the bill rested or
Imaginary information. The result, he
contended, is a ''prohibitive" tariff in
stead of a protective tariff. He de-
clared the complete elimination of all
foreign goods viii prevent the payment
of even the interest on che debts OF
foreign nations to the United States.
"Of about 1000 witnesses who APP
peared before the Ways and Means
Committee not one furnished any in
formation upon which the difference in
The cost of production between this
country and others could be deter
mined,' Mr. Garner said. "The Con-
eress is to-day swithout information
upon which to draw a tariff bill"
Lively Verbal Exchanges
He challenged Chairman Fordney to
tell where he got the data for the
rates" The latter remained in his seat
for a moment and the Democratic side
literally howled. Rising, Mr.. Fordney
shouted:
"The testimony taken by the COM
mlttee is filled with this information"
Choosing an example at random
Chairman Fcrdney showed that in the
pottery industry the range in prices
paid workers is 70 cents an hour in
the United States; Is in Great Britain;
six in Germany and FIVE in Japan.
The Democrats prOfpSs ioporopno of
the basis for the rates because they
do not want to find out how thew
were obtained" Mr.. Fordney counter
charged.
Representative Nicholas Longworth.
of Ohio, interrupted Mr.. Garner and
asked:
when the Fordney emergency tariff
olii was being considered you voted
for the high rate on wool. Did you
know the basis for that?"
Representative Garner replied that
he voted "blindly," on the chance that
the American ranchman might be
as the permanent bill, which would be
on the statute books for at least four
years, he believed the rates should be
scientifically constructed.
When you confine the American
markets to America alone" he con-
tinued, Chow are you going to permit
imports to come in in exchange for our
surplus wheat and other products?
"Damnable Power"
owe are all bending our efforts to
building up our foreign trade. The
President has been holding conferences
at the White House with bankers from
the East and bankers from the West
with the purpose of extending credit
to Europe in order that she may buy
our goods. We all know that the
United States has an excessive share
of the gold of the world and that tie
other countries have virtually none.
"If you can't sell to them now, how
are YOU going to help the matter by
shutting our custom houses to their
goods ?"
Mr. Longworth pointed out that the
bill includes provisions under which
the President may enter into reciprocal
trade agreements with foreign nations.
Mr.. Garner turned his attack against
this part of the bill and declared it is
a "damnable power" to give to one man.
y He can make you poor Or rich, accord
ing to the way you voted"
One Of Mr.. Gamers parting shots
was:
"You can't maintain the tariff law
Niu pcAAiit EUROPE To pay tne uoDCS she
owes us. We must permit her to sell
N our markets if she is to pay the in
terest alone"
Taking up the support of the tariff
oiI later, Majority Floor Leader Mon
tell declared it "has met with a more
,avorable response from the country
han any like measure presented with
n generations"
He charged the minority with miss
ng an opportunity to do a great pub
ic service, and said the criticism from
he opposition has been not only not
constructive, but illogical and cfouded. |
Divided Democracy Seen
81 am inclined to he opinion that
he failure of the minority to present |
heir case clearly, definitely and lcgi-
ally is due largely to the fact that
or the first time in many wears the |
)emocratic side finds itself sadly d: |
lded, both as to the rates carried and |
IS to the policy outlined in the meas |
Ire" said he.
eve may hear before the debate
loses some voice reminiscent of the |
'ast still proclaiming the virtue Of |
rec trade. Some one on the Demo !
ratio side may be heard denouncing
protective tariff in any shane OF
orm, but those voices will lack the
umbers and the assurance of the
'lden times. Eventually, unless I am
realty mistaken, we shall find a very
considerable number Of gentlemen on
ne other side supporting the measure.
MESS at the last moment they are
issuaded from their present incliaa-
ION ,l1 by the cracking of the party whip.
The fact is that America and eyerv
ection of it is to-day at heart largely
avorable to protective policy. and
'emocratlc orators find themselves em-
arrassed by the protective sentiment
their section. That fact does not
owever, excuse denunciation, abuse
nd extravaganza" '"'e
h EB