Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-05
Majority 10 to IL Shown in
Adoption Four Amendments
Import Duty 40c Bushel on
Wheat-ApprOves Duty on
Fresh and Frozen Meats
Underwood Knocks Measure

Washington, Feb. tThe Senate got
down to business with the Fordney
emergency tariff bill today and before
the session, which convened at II O.
clock ended, four amendments had
been adopted. Votes on the amend
ment where a record was made,
showed supporters of the bill to have
a majority ranging from 10 to 10.
As the situation stood tonight it
appeared that the bill for the most
part would be, actually as we'll as
technically, under consideration I'M
iii a final vote is reached. Senator
Penrose Republican, Pennsylvania, in
charge of the bill. declared that it
had good prospects of passage next
week.
Under the program, the early part
h the sessions will be devoted to con-
sideration of appropriation bills but
later the tariff measure will be de-
bated as it was today, to the exclusion
Of all else.
The committee amendment to estab-
lish an import duty of forty cents g.
bushel on wheat was twice adopted
today. 1t was first taken up with on
" nine senators in the chamber and
accepted without a dissenting vote.
Then Senator Harrison, Democrat,
Mississippi, one of the bitterest ops
ponents of the measure, discovered
what had happened and forced call
for quorum. He said he was under
the impression that the Senate still
was considering a minor Indian bill.
After the quorum call and an hour
OF dcsultory debate, Senator 'EcCum-
Der, Republican, North Dakota, asked
for reconsideration of the wheat
amendment and it was again agreed
10, by vote of 3S to %.
The amendment, also from the COM
mittoe, exempting from tariff duty
rice to be used in the manufacture Of
canned goods likewise was adopted.
The committee amendments fixing
duties of two cents a pound on fresh
and frozen meats and of % per cent.
ad valorem on prepared Or preserved
meats and eXempting from import du-
ties all livestock imported exclusive
ly for breeding purposes also were
approved.
Consideration of the duty on meats
brought from Senator Underwood of
Aamaba, the Democratic leader, an
attack on what he described as the
lniquties of the proposed legislation.
He assailed the Republican PROPOSE
lion, inquiring whether Republican
senator's had absolutely forgotten
that the government had need for re-
venue and whether the present bill
could be accepted as an indication of
their intention to build tariff wall
about the country during the extra
session."
The Fordney bill, Mr.. Underwood
asserted, could be construed as none
other than a consumption tax. He
accused supporters of the bill Of be-
ing willing to legislate money from
the consumers into the pockets Of
SPECTATORS and quoted figures from a
summary of tariff information, COM
piled by the Republican House ways
and means committee to show that
imports so much complained of Eek
lst only in the air"
The program of the leaders to at
Tempt the fixing of date for a vote
went into the discard, temporarily at
least. with the arrival of Senator Will
hams. Mississippi, who renewed his
declaration that he would not be
pound by any private agreements. Mr..
williams spoke heatedly Of "machina-
ions going on around here" saying:
1 would be a fool to agree to some
ming ! do not believe in, and some
,hing the result Of which I already
know"
Inc House ways and means commit
zee mas completed hearings on the silk
schedule in it's consideration Of re-
VISION of the permanent tariff. 1t
pans tomorrow to hear discussions of
'arif rates on paper and books