Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-08
SENATORS DEFEND
PALMER'S METHOD
IN FIGHTING H,C.LL.
Wool Man Says Govern
ment's Course in Attack
ing Prices "Unwise.''
THOMAS AND JONES TAKE
COLONEL WOOD TO TASK
Astergren and Groner, Virgin
ians, Protest Manner of Tax
ing Vegetable Oils.
lBr Associated Press !


WASHINGTON. Jan T.-Considcra-
tion OF the Fordney emergency tariff
bill was sidetrackcd for a time today
by the Senate Finance Committee
while it's members defended efforts
OF the government to force down
living costs. The departure from the
program came when witness
charged the government with re-
sponsibility for economic conditions
confronting the country through en-
coura cement OF n buyers strike. For
an hour decorum was cast OF and
pointed exchanges took place.
notwithstanding warnings by Act
ing Chairman McCumber and Senator
Smoot, Republican. Utah. that the
committee must obtain speedy action
on the bill to prevent further losses
for tho farmers. Senator's Thomas
Colorado. and Jones. OF New Mexico.
DEMOCRATS. indulged in spirited
argument with Colonel John p
Wood. OF Philadelphia. who appeared
in behalf OF the wool manufacturers
Colonel Woods assertion. tina, the
government and particularly the De-
partment Of Justice had been ''un-
wise" in promulgatlng Il campaign
against high prices met with the re-
jo!nder by Senator Thomas that pres
cnt conditions were simply those OF
"one man being willing to see an
other lose money. but very anxious
not to lose any himself"
Unfamiliar With CnIder's work.
Senator Jones asked the witness
hot t,n hi alan x,,,t-
could not also he applied to the CAL
der committee investigating housing
and TO the Senate itself, FOR many
members have been active in ,ngitat-
ing for n price decline" Mr.. Wood
replied that he was unfamiliar with
the Calder committee's work, bu. he
knew the accusations OF Senators
many times had materially affected
prices.
MY objections continued the
witness. ARE principally against the
methods used by the government and
particularly by Attorney General
Palmer. Mr.. Palmer and his staff. in
stead of seeking out and prosecuting
specific cases of profteerinE. have
dealt In generalitics. 1t has resulted
III discrcdit attaching to all OF the
business"
Senator Thomas declared that Mr..
Palmer's course was the only way to
uncover specific cases and added that
business should have purged its own
ranks. He expressed the belief that
the consumer had some rights after
all. and that the government had
functioned In the interests OF n
vast majority OF the people" when
1t sought to bring down the price OF
commodities.
To this declaration. Colonel Wood
replied that there had been Il war
ranted resentment against tho high
prices" and said that the govern
full TO the point that all prices have
gone down and to the extent that
hundreds OF thousands of men have
been thrown out OF work."
The committee also heard George
d. Briggs, representing the National
Sheep and Wool Bureau; Representa-
tive Walsh, Republican. Massachus-
etts: John AsterGrcn. Of Portsmouth,
Va. representing vegetable oil pro-
ducers. and ID. Lawrence Groner, of
Norfolk, Va. representing peanut
producers.
Asks Correction OF Methods.
Mr.. Astergren. as. well as Mr.. Gro
ner. supported the hill, but requested
the committee 60 correct the proposed
methods OF assessing tariff. on veg
etable oils. The hill fixes the rate
on IA per-gallon basis. while Mr.. AS