Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-20
FORDNEY BILL
BRINGS UP THE
OLD ARGUMENTS
High Protective Tariff Theory
Repeated by Republican
ExpOnents.
POINTS AGAINST BILL

WASHINGTON. July 90 The long
hsralded Fordney high protective tariff
bill. now under heated discussion n the
House and which viii pass that body on
July p by almost a strict party vote is
with unconscious facetiousness entitled
"a bill to provide revenue. to regulate
commerce with foreign countries, to en-
courage the industries OF the United
States, and for other purposes
tmay be truthfuHy epitomized from the
Democratic point Of view as "a bill to
prevent Europe from paying us what she
owes US. to encourage the higher cost of
living. to destroy commerce with foreign
countries. to insure the return OF the
Democratic party to power, and for other
purposes"
The arguments being made in its favor
are the old stock high protective tarif
arguments that have been heard ever
: since the protective tariff theory was bora
and are not worth a summary, even II
space would permit. Whatever appllca-
ton or force they may have had. II any.
prior to the world war, we're destroyed hy
that economic upheavaL, but Republican
Congressman 90 right on repeating them
Just as IL no war had taken place and
nothing had been changed.
ARGUMENTS
AGAINST BILL.
Specifically. the main arguments against
the bin are:
That the United States has changed
from a debtor nation, paying its deots
largely IN goods to 4 creditor nation
which must collect its debts, largely IN
goods II they are 70 be collected ut all
Europe's debt to this country with actu-
mulated interest is approximately eleven
billion OF dollars, and all the gold prc-
duced IN the world outside Of the United
States would not pay one third OF the in
terest. II It is TO be paid, therefore. u
must be paid in large part IN something
other than gold.
That the depreciation OF money values
abroad has been relatively such that q
tariff which might protect an American
Industry against competition from one
country would not DO so as against an
other.
That the rates n TIE bill are as high
or higher than those Of the Payne-Al-
drfch bill which put the Republican
party out Of legislative power for eight
years
That in addition to these high rates
the prices OF commodities to the con-
sumer would be further increased by the
american valuation" clause. which
places upon the imported article the value
Of the same article here, thus compelling
the purchaser to pay a duty on outy.
NATION MUST SELL
~ ORDER TO Buy.
That the bill viii destroy trade and
commerce to foreign countries because
no foreign nation az the present time Is
in a position to buy unless il can sell.
and as the bill is designed TO shut out
imports it viii necessarily destroy ex-
ports
The consensus OF opinion here IS that
the tariff bill viii be put aside when it
reaches the Senate in order 10 take 10
the tax revision pill, and that the new
law will not be in effect before the next
snow, If then, and perhaps viii bear no
resemblance 70 its present form when
the Senate gets through with it.
1t has been alleged that one valid rea-
son why the House put the tariff Dill
ahead Of the tax rexisiOn bill when the
business interests were clamoring for
revision Of the burdensome tax laws, was
to satisfy the interests which put up the
money for the Republican campaign, and
has made the tariff bill one Of the bills
due and collectible-"
GOLFERS SPEECH
CONTPLINENTED
One Of the many able speeches against
the Fordney tariff bill was made by Rep
Il
crat. Mississippi, ho drew from Repre-
sentative KetcLam. Republican, Niehi-
gan. the compliment that L think he IS
making the best presentation Of the Dem
ocratic viewpoint OF which I have been
privileged to listen
In his speech, Representative Collier
among other things, made such clear
and accurate explanation Of the differ
euces and distinctions between a Demo
g. --s=1 h1#
NAV well serve as a guide for Democrats
In the discussion Of the tariff question.
He said:
"The issue between those parties on
this great question is well defined. Both
parties declare that certain import duties
should be levied upon the importation
Of cert n articles produced OF manufac-
tured { foreign countries. The distinc-
ton lies not in the way in which these
taxes aIe collected. Both parties believe
that the should be collected at the Gus
tom houue. The distinction lies not in
the use II which these taxes ale 70 be
put after they are collected, because both
parties would apply them to the uses Of
the Fedora treasury. The distinction,
then, lies in the purT 9se, the object, and
the intent which governs the levying OF
the tariff rate on the article VIII n IS
taxed.
DEFINES
TARIFF PURPOSE.
"The purpose, the object, the intent OF
a Republican IN levying a tariff rate IS
to keep out impCrtations, so that the sup
ply of the article taxed will be limited
which will increase the demand in order
that the American manufacturer who
makes the same article may receive a
high price by this destruction of compc-
tition, which is called protection.
'The purpose, the object, the intent OF
a Democrat in levying a tariff rate Is
solely to secure funds to meet the ex-
renSes Of the Fedora Government There
fore, the tax must 5e so fixed that, in
stead Of keeping out impOrtatiOns, it will
permit the bringing in Of importations,
which generally. though not necessarily,
means a competitive rate. To the
Trainer OF a Republican tariff bill pro
lection is the object, the purpose. and
the intent. and il any revenue should be
collected, why, then, this revenue is mere
II incidental To the Trainer OF a Demo-
cratic tariff bill revenue is the purpose,
the object, and the intent, and if any
protection should result to any American
industry by reason of this rate. then
this protection merely Incidental
THE Republicans believe that a tariff