The Washington herald., 1921-01-28
AS Democrats Filibuster
G. o. P. Leader Gets Sig
natures for Cloture.
SEN. KING FEARS
CANADA REPRISALS
Simmons, N. c., Attacks
Duty on Foreign Wheat
AS Shortsighted Policy.

irrepressible tariff debate in the
Senate yesterday. Senators McCum-
Der and Gronna, of North Dakota,
defending the clause fixing. a duty
on grain from Canada in the inter
est of suffering farmers of the West,
while Senator Ransdell, Of Louis
lana. and othera upheld the clause
which would require a duty on
sugar
Senator Penrose obtained a recess
at o'clock, forcing the tarift' bill
upon the calendar again today. In
the meantime he circulated a petit
tion to invoke Cloture. Senators
Harrison. of Mississippi, and Sim
mons. Of North Carolina. lead the
now apparently well-dehned hlibus-
ter on the bill.
Deception, Says SImmonk-
In speech of two hours and a
half Senator Simmons charged that
the measure was a deception and an
attempt to take money from con-
sumers of the country and put ii in
the pockets of the various classes
represented. He said that demoral-
ization of the wheat market pre-
ceded the influx of that cereal from
Canada, and that tobacco and GER
tain other products had slumped to
"a greater extent than wheat or
cattle and live stock products with
no Importation at all. He asked
where was the need for duties upon
products of this country that do not
compete with importations. He said
last years American wheat crop
was 100000, 900 bushels. while the
importations from Canada were 25,-
900, 900 bushels, which, he said,
could not seriously affect the
Anne rican markets.
Where did you get your hgures?"
Senator McCUmber asked
The North Carolina Senator said
he quoted Tarfa Board and CONNER
cial statistics.
Large Carry over.
Senator McCumber said wheat i'm
portations from Canada during a
short period OF last year amounted
to 5S,OOO,OOO bushels. and Senator
GrOnna declared the American
wheat crop, according to the De-
partment of Agriculture, was 7SS,-
100000 bushels Besides this there
was a carry-oVer OF from 50.00O,0OO
to 100000 bushels, for which he
blamed the Cutting Of the Ameri-
can market to the Generalization OF
prices.
In saying that American exports
TO Canada cqualed imports of grain
from that country, Senator Simmons
admitted that his figures included
reference to flour. Republican Sen
ators declared that much OF Ameri-
can exports to Canada. particularly
wheat, are re-eNpOrted to Europe
and Senator Simmons said it was
the same case with wheat brought
to this country from Crnada, which
Republicans denied.
King Fears ReprisHIs-
Senator King, Of Utah explaining
that he had taken no stand either
for or against the emergency tarin
bill, asked of Senator McCumber il
American exports OF grain to
Canada eQualed imports from there,
and was informed that general ex-
port business between this country
and Canada was larger than impor,
business. The Senator from Utah
asked that II a tariff were imposed
upon the smaller importation busi-
ness would not this country be open
to reprisals against the larger eN-
port business at the hands Of
Canada, should that country take
offense. Senator McCumber said
this country does not export wheat
for Canadian consumption, but ad-
mitted that some -four was exported
for Canadian use due to competi-
ton between the American and Ca
madam flour mills.
Seeks CIoture Rule.
While Democratic sentences fell
in an unbroken stream signatures
of Republican Senators were being
attached to a petition for the clo-
ture rule which was circulated by
Senator Boise Penrose. chairman of
the Finance Committee.
The Pennsylvania Senator now
has the power to force a showdown
on cloture but when or whether he
intends to attempt to make use of
the weapon he refuses to say posi-
lively.
The majority of the Republicans
already have signed the petition,
which requires only sixteen sigma
lures in order to bring a vote on the
question. A number of Republican
Senators have refused to sign, due
to their dislike of invoking the only
rule ever drawn to limit debate in
the "deliberative body" Overtures
are to be made to the half score
or more Democrats who have signi-
fed their intention of voting for the
tariff bill to see if they will sup
port the cloture movement.
Want TO Get Action.
The principal object of the clo-
ture, Republican leaders said. was
for use against a ilibuster by only
a few members OF the Democratic
side against all action at this ses-
sion. The Republicans wish, IL pos
sible to put all of the appropriation
bills through at this session of Con-
gress. This desire has been prompt
ed mainly by the expressed wish of
President elect Harding that he
would like to have Congress pre-
pared to take up the problems of
the new administration when it
meets in April.
There is no alarm in Republican
quarters at the prospect of not pass
ing all of the appropriation bills. It
is thought certain that all of the
bills that are not passed at this ses-
sion can easily be got out Of the
way soon after the new Congress
meets with it's handy working ma
jority on the Republican Hde.
The conviction of the Republican