The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-30
EUROPEAN GOODS
INVADE MARKETS
Wool and Meat Now Crossing High
Seas-Alarm Westerners


States, according to Senator Smoot
of Utah.
Europe is actively competing with
American producers, and the surplus
markets, which it will produce, Will
materially decrease the cost OF llv-
NO to American people, provided, OF
course, President Harding does not
resort to war power and raise an
embargo against the landing OF the
shipments. !
Senator Smoot informed the cor
respondent of this newspaper that If
the wool and meat in question is de-
liyered, and does enter the Ameri-
can trade, it will ruin wool produ-
GERS and cattle growers of the Uni
ted States. He has urged the presi-
dent to declare an embargo.
It is the contention of Senator
Smoot that European producers are
hurrying their products to the Uni
ted States for storage rather ohan
immediate sale. He argues that II
such products are Immediately
stored, they will not be subject to
the very high duty which will sub
sequently be imposed as result OF
the tariff bill which the congress
will enact.
Would Transfer Burden
But, according to the senator's
viewpoint, even were the goods OF
fered in trade, and the market so
affected as to result in a saving to
the consumers Of the United States,
there would be no economic justice
involved. Rather than destroy the
Western wool producers and cattle
growers, he holds, it would be prop
er to prerate the cost Of their con-
tinued existence among the Eastern
and Southern consumers.
President Harding is loath to re-
sort to the war Legislation which is
still on the statute books to protect
certain Western interests at the cos!!,
of the consumer. But Senator Smoot
holds that he may eventually BE- PER
suaded.
Treasury records show steady
increase in importation Of necessi-
ties of life from European centers.
The cost Of living in America is re-
duced gradually thereby. American
producers, naturally, suffer that loss
which would be gained were they
able to sell their products in excess
of their actual value.
Republicans hold the, veto of Pres
ident Wilson responsible for the dis
tress Of wool producers. Democrats
ascribe to that veto the fact that
the consumer can secure greater
value for his money. Thus the old
issue Of the tariff asserts itself
anew.
Will Act Quickly.
It is the purpose of the Republi-
cans to enact temporary legislation
Immediately after the convening of
the extraordinary session. April II,
to serve until such time as the per-
manent legislation can be prepared.
The socalled emergency or agricul-
tural bill might be called again into
action; the Payne tariff bill might
be resuscitated, or the Republicans
might be content with an automatic
increase Of 33 1-3 per cent. in all
the rates of the Underwood bill.
The fact, however, that Europe
again displays an ability to COM
pete with American producers on
such scale that American producers
are already crying out that they are
ruined is attributed not only to
what has previously been Demon
strated-that Europe can ship its
goods half way round the world and
sell them here cheaper than local
products are sold-but to the exor-
bitant railroad rates which serious
ly handicap a far Westerner in ef-
fort to reach Eastern markets.
The railroad question thus in
trudes itself on the tariff problem,
and makes it additionally evident
that the extraordinary session will