The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1921-07-22
HOUSE VOTES OIL
ON THE FREE LIST
Ignores Harding's Plea for Right
to Fix Rate.
ASKS FOR BARGAIN" TARIFF
Fordney Bares Presidents Letter OPP
posing Tax as Menace to Ameri-
can PoIicy-Impost Eliminat-
ed by Vote of 1877 to 70.

Washington, July 19.-By vote of
1877 to 70, the house in committee of
the whole struck from the Fordney
tariff bill the duty on crude oil and
ordered oil back to the free list.
The vote was SO overwhelming for
free oil that it's most active advocates
have surrendered hope that oil can be
restored to the, dutiable list when the
bill comes up for final approval in the
house proper.
Much Of the credit for defeating the
diligent effort to levy an impOst on oil
imports is given to the Intervention OF
President Harding, whose letter OPP
posing such a tariff was laid before
the house by Chairman FOrdney Of
the ways and means committee, al
though the President twice wrote
Chairman FOrdney protesting against
such a duty, but Mr.. Fordney declined
to make the second of the letters pub
lie, despite demands from the minor
ity side Of the floor that he do so.
Encourage u. S. Citizens Abroad.
The Presidents letter, which was
laid before the house, was written
June 80, addressed to Chairman Ford
ney. 1t said:
II understand that your committee
is very soon to decide whether to in
clude a protective duty on crude oil
in the tariff bill to be reported to- the
house. / cannot refrain from express
ing the hope that your committee will
take note of the foreign policy to
which we are already committed, I'M
der which the government is doing
every consistent thing to encourage
the participation Of American citizens
in the development of the oil re-
sources in many foreign lands. This
course has been inspired by the grow
ing concern of our country over the
supply of crude oil to which we may
turn for our future needs, not alone
for our domestic commerce but in
meeting the needs Of our navy and
our merchant marine.
''To levy a protective tariff on crude
petroleum now would be at variance
with all that has been done to safe
guard our future interests.
Suggests Bargaining Feature.
Il am not unmindful of the oil in
dustry within our own borders and
most cordially believe in its proper
consideration. Would it not be prac-
ticable to provide for such protection
in some bargaining provision which
may be placed in the hands of the Ex-
ecutive so that we may guard against
the levy of duties against us or the i'm
position by other nations of export
tariffs which are designed to hinder
the facilitatiOn of trade which is es
sential to our welfare?
''In the matter of crude oil, and in
the one of lumber, concerning which
we talked, our position will be the
stronger if the tariff levy is omitted
and authority is given the Executive
to impose a duty in appropriately
stated circumstances. 1 hope your
committee will find it consistent to
give consideration to these sugges-
tiOns."
Neither the committee on ways and
means nor the house, both of which
were in the final test overwhelmingly
against any form of oil duty, acted on
the Presidents suggestion for even a
reciprocal or retaliatOry arrangement
on oil such as the committee wrote
into the lumber schedule. The test
came on q straight amendment to
strike oil from the dutiable list, as
offered by Representative Treadway,
Republican, of Massachusetts.