Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-18
SECOND HURRY
UP TARIFF BILL
IN The MAKING
Father Fordney Off
to Confer with Hard
ing in Florida
Seek Presidents Approval Of
Measure Designed as Stop
Gap-Would Approach Near
er Permanent Tariff lin Scope
- Initial Emergency Bill
Caught in House Jam

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE Fordney
emergency tariff bill, with it's burden
of Senate amendments, got back to
the House today only to get snagged
in legislative jam, leaving it's imme-
date future uncertain.
Soon after Chairman Fordney, of
the Ways and Means committee, had
started for St. Augustine, Fla, to
consult President-Elect Harding
about putting through a second emer-
gency tariff as stop-gap measure.
Acting Chairman Green sought to
complete the House formalities of
sending the first bill to conference.
Obtaining recognition just before the
House adjourned Representative
Green asked the House to disagree
with the Senate amendments and
that a conference committee be
| named. Representative Treadway,
Republican, Massachusetts, failed to
give the necessary unanimous con-
sent and hasty conferences followed.
Mr.. Green sought to get the Massa-
chusetts member to withhold objec
ton. Failing in that, Mr.. Green en-
listed the support of Representative
| Mondell. Republican floor leader, who
also attempted to untangle the situa
| ton, but nothing came of it.
The Fordney bill thus was left over
night with three possibilities all de-
pending upon maneuvres by Republic
| can leaders. 1t may be sent to con-
i ference by a vote of the House, re-
ferred again to the Ways and Means
Committee or an attempt may be
, made to have the House concur in
! the Senate amendments
Mr.. Treadway declared he had OPP
posed the bill as a member of the
/ Ways and Means committee, and add
ed:
1T was bad then. 1t is n lot worse
now with all of those appointments
tackled on"
Mr.. Treadway was said by several
members to have expressed to House
! leaders fear that President Wilson
might sight that bill and get the
| whole Republican party in a hole"
He also was said to have told the
leaders that he regarded statements
, of Senator Underwood minority lead
er, that the President would veto the
! measure as pure bait" Explaining
that had the President intended
vetoing the bill such inspired
statements would have not been
| made.
| AS for the second emergency
measure, which, if approved by Mr..
Harding, is to be rushed through the
extra session ahead of all other
legislation Republican leaders were
| apparently in accord. 1t is proposed
to make it comparable to a perma-
nent tariff bill in scope and effect
and its rates, according to the pro-
gram, will be based on information
! gathered in the hearings just con-
cluded. So.
| The President-elect will be urged
to lend his support to the PROPOSE
ton on the ground that checking OF
the imports through an additional
tariff would permit revival of Ameri.
can industries. now complaining OF
heavy importations and that it also
would increase revenue for the treas.
ury. Committee members were SAID
to fear that probably nine months
would be required to get a perma.
nent tariff through Congress and thai
importers would take advantage OF
the time to pile up surplus stocks.
i The proposed BILL according to the
vision for the importers which, il
event permanent rates are lower
would allow the treasury to rebate
importers the difference in amount.
paid and assessed under the presen
tariff on the same consignments.