The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-16
PROGRESS IS MADE
BY THE SENATE ON
F0RDNEY MEASURE
Prospects Good for Vote To-.
day, McCumber Announces
at Close of Days Work
on the Bill


Washington, February 15.:The Senate
made real progress in its consideration
of the Fordney emergency tariff bill to-
day. and when the eight-hour session
ended, it had taken up and adopted four
of the nine remaining amendments which
had been recommended by its finance
committee.
tor McCumber, republican, North Da-
kota, in charge of the bill, said pros
poets were good for a vote tomorrow A
vote tonight had been the object of sup-
porters of the bill. but they were thwarl-
ed by a series OF speeches., some ex-
tremely heated. which delayed action on
amendments.
After it became apparent that final
action on the bill could not be had to-
night, Mr.. McCumber sought to con-
clude consideration of all committee
amendments. This plan, likewise. sui
fered defeat.
Among the amendments accepted by
the Senate was the substitute sugar
schedule proposed by Senator Smoot. re-
publican, Utah, for that agreed upon by
the committee. The Smoot amendment
would place the tariff at one cent per
pound in addition to the present duty OF
the same amount, while the committee
amendment to the House bill would have
added approximately three cents a pound
to the present rate.
The other amendments adopted by the
Senate would provide rates as follows:
OTHER RATES PROVIDED
Butter and butter substitutes, per
cent per pound; cheese and cheese sub
stitutes, 70 per cent ad valorem; fresh
milk, cents per gallon, and cream, 5
cents per ga}lon
Senator Thomas, democrat, Colorado,
alone voted against the s.,iIvye sugar duty,
while 81 were recorded for it. In join
ing with the supporters of the bill to
put over the sugar amendment, demo-
cratic opponents of the measure claimed
to have won point which, it was said,
will eventually. cause trouble for the
measures proponents. The near unani-
nous vote, it was declared, will force
members Of the Senate conference COM
mittee to hold out to the end against
House conferees when the bin goes to
conference. The House refused on three
occasions to add sugar to the commodi-
ties for which protection was afforded.
and leaders said there was no reason
to expect changed sentiment.
Trite arguments and acrimonious
charges as well as logic characterized
the debate. Senator Williams, democrat,
Mississippi, held the attention Of 70 SEN
ators for more than an hour while he
launched an attack on the whole tariff
bill that sparkled with wit. sarcasm and
sincerity in turn. Seldom, il ever, have
as many senators sat as they did today,
OF other matters. toalisten to
speech Of one of their own number. And
Mr.. Williams rewarded them.
HARD ON PUBLIC
The Mississippi senator charged pro-
ponents Of the emergency tariff with
seeking to legislate money out Of the
pockets Of the public into the pockets
Of those benefited by the bin. He de-
clared that the tariff provisions on sugar
were such as to make any industry
profitable, and added
II can raise bananas in New Jersey il
you will give me tariff on them. I'd
sell them for dollar q banana. That
would be profitable IL the tariff was
high enough. but the government would
be taking money away from the other
people to Keep my hOthouse going.
II say all / have belongs to my gov
eminent when it is for governmental
purposes; nothing that j have belongs to.
my government when for any other pur-
pose That government has no right 70
.dabbie in buccaneering expedition. Be-
sides, would be unwilling to- have our
Industrial life rest on the whims and
caprices of lot of politicians conBres
gated here III congress.
Senator Williams. as he waded deeper
and deeper into the arguments against
the mea sure, also moved across the aisle
is where Senator Smoot sat. Mr.. Smoot
finafly Save way and in the place from
witch the Senate many times has heard
preached the doctrines Of high tariff
there was. delivered an argument dia-
'metrically opposed
n II caused 4 roar Of laughter to pefvade'
tho usualIv staid Senate chamber, but did
mot din{7,fh fhe sneaker F