Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-08
HARDING'S PLAN
Continued from Page One)

Chairman Penrose Of the Senate
committee plans to confer soon with
the leading Republicans Of the House
ways and means committee regarding
the subject. He said today that he
had heard much favorable comment
on the presidents suggestion. adding
that he and other members OF tic
committee had discussed the proposals
with the executives before they wcr,
presented to Congress by Mr.. Harding
yestcrda%.
Senator Penrose expressed the opin-
ion that careful thought would have to
be given the MANNER of delegatlng au-
thority to the president to change the
rates or proclaim American valuation
as the basis for assessing duties as
changing conditions might warrant
Amendments to the House bill pre-
escribing the means of making the
grant of authority already have been
proposed by Senator Smooth OF Utah.
a member of the committee. And these
were given study today by members of
the committee as we'll as other sena-
tors and by some members OF the
House.
Chairman Fordney OF the House
ways and means committee, who re-
turned to the city today, said he haI
not had time to study the president s
suggestions and would withhold COM
mcnt. lie did say, however, that from
the first he lad favored the drafting
Of a bill fixing minimum and max
mum rates with authority for the pres
!dcnt to fix the amount Of duties be-
!. tween those figures at such intervals
as conditions might warrant change
Hearings on the house measure
We're resumed today by the senate
committee under 4 schedule which
will keep it in session almost every
day from now until the Christina
holidays. The tobacco schedule oc-
cupied the committee today and to-
morrow it will take up cotton manu-
features.
Conflicting views as to any increa5-
rs in the duties on tobacco were eX-
pressed by spokesman for manufac-
turcrs and growers. Senator F1etch-
or. Democrat. Florida, speaking for
~ Tampa, Florida. and Joseph Gull
man. Jr.. of New York City. repre-
senting cigar manufacturers and the
leaf tobacco trade generally. opposed
increases in existing rates, while NJ.
l.. Floyd OF Hartford, Conn, repre-
SentinG the New England tobacco
growers association. urged an ad-
vance in the import duty on wrap
pcrs from the present s1.S5 a pound
to $3.50 n pound.
Pointing to a decreasing produc
ton Of cigars in this country, Mr..
Cullran said that the manufacturers
could stand no increase in burdens,
but on the other hand should be Civ
en- some relief. He urged retention
Of the present rate on wrappers and
the existing rates on filters and scrap.
II the rates are advanced, rs propos-
Cd in the house bill. he said. the fed
oral revenues will be decreased
through decreased importations and
the growers will not be benefited as
the manufacturers. unable to further
increase their prices to the public.
either will have to pay domestic
latter course. he added, was not
deemed feasible.
Mr.. Floyd argued that an increase
in the rate on wrappers to $3.50 a
pound could be absorbed by the man
ufacturers without increasing the
price as the increase would represent
an increase of only one fifth OF \
cent on each cigar.