Evening star., 1921-07-09
DEMOCRATSSTART
ATTACK ON TARIFF.
Representative Garner
Launches Opposition After
! Fordney Outlines Bill.

! Fordney Outlines Bill.
The keynote speech of the demo-
critic opposition to the Fordney tariff
bill is being made in the House this
afternoon by Representative Garner
of Texas, acting minority leader ana
ranking democrat on the ways and
means committee The House was
crowded when Mr. Garner began nj 8
attack, following a roll call to get a
quorum.
Under a special rule adopted today
by the House rules committee over
solid democratic opposition separate
votes and amendments could be had
on five schedules of the tafim bill and
debate would end July 81.
The rule will. be presented In the
House Monday. and Chairman Camp
bell said there would be. ample time
Tor discussion of 1t.
Open to Amendmeat
Republican leaders previously had
decided to open the cotton, oil, dye
and hide paragraphs to amendment
and a vote. and today they added the
asphalt schedule to the list. 1t was
explained that numerous requests for
q separate vote on this item had been
received.
Chairman Fordney. IN a speech Of
nearly two hours yesterday devel-
oped the first phase of the republican
argument.
Mr. Fordney discussed his party's
attitude. what it proposed to do to
-emedy conditions and to help bMst-
ness. He dwelt only briefly on de-
tails of the rates and provisions,
touching them only incidentally or IN
reply to questions, but announced
that other speakers would explafn
1pecific schedules in the measure.
Criticising the position of the demo-
Gratis, Mr.. Fordney said they had ac-
cused the republicans of drafting q
measure which would cut OF rather
than encourage trade. when the cardi-
nal policy of his committee had been
to build a set of schedules which
would restore commerce and INDUSTRY
to health. The committees work al
ways was actuated. he declared. oy
in a slump and should be given pro-
lection which would save 1t from the
inroads of foreign competition.
Compromises necessarily have been
put in the bill. the speaker said. add
ing that all such contested points
would be put before the House for its
approval or rejection. At any rate. ne
Informed the House. the committee
did the best job of which II was ca
pabie, and he was willing to stand be-
hind 1t to the finish.
Sees VIII Of People.
The last election Influenced the re-
publicans in the House to launch into
tariff legislation. according to Mr..
Fordney. He said he believed the peo-
pie knew when they had what they
wanted or did not want, and that the
overwhelming majority last fall was
q voice of protest against the Under
wood law. along with other objections
to the democratic administration.
"The republican party" he added.
rhae fol
people spoke out loudly for protec-
ton"
Mr.. Fordney declared Canada last
year collected in import duties an
amount equal to $500 per capita.
compared with $3.15 in the United
States under the Underwood law.
Regarding the American valuation
system. the speaker declared the COM
mittee had found no other methods by
which exchange would be equalized
and imports enter this country on
something Of a parity.
chairman said. turning to the demo-
Gratis. We have given you an oHpor-
tunfty to vote In or out duty on cot
ton. Unless you can vote for the bill.
don't vote for duty on cotton or
you will be criticised.
Fair to North snd South.
I'VE have protected every industry
Of the south on an equality with the
industries of the north. Cotton is
just as important an agricultural
product as corn or wheat and is en-
titled to protection for that reason"
With wheat down to $1.25 q bushel,
Mr.. Fordney said. best grade flour
wholesale in Washington was quoted
at $10.75 a barrel, adding that it
meant there was something wrong
somewhere.
But remembering your seven mil
Hon majority last November" asked
Representative Garner, democrat.
Texas. what has the republican party
done to remedy such conditions?"
Whirling around on his heel, the
chairman grabbed and held up the
346-page tariff bill.
Good God, haven't you seen it?"
Mr.. Fordney shouted and the House
roared.
Answering inquiries why hides were
on the free list. Mr.. Fordney said
the bill represented the best efforts
of the committee and necessarily car
ried some compromises. A separate
vote on the question of placing a
duty on hides has been agreed to.
VIII Not Increase H. C. L.
The speaker made the statement
that higher tariff rates did not neces-
sarily mean higher living costs. Point.
ing to Representative Garner Of
Texas, heading the opposition, the
speaker charged that the democrats
had put duty on the hair Of angora
goats to protect the growers in Texas,
but had turned a deaf ear to the
wool growers further north.
And to the Washington and Ore
gon wool growers you'll be known
in history as Angora Jack Garner of
Texas" he added. as the House broke
into a storm of applause.
Mr.. Fordney said he would not dis
cuss the dye schedule, leaving that
to Representative Longworth. who
wrote IL. He said, however, that more
attention had been given to it than
any other provision in the bill.
said. turning to democrats. in closing
his speech. Il hope all of you will
come here July 21. dressed in your
best protection clothes, and mako this