The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-04-21
A NEWS LETTER
FROM WASHINGTON
SALIENT POINTS IN PRESIDENT
HARDING'S MESSAGE-BILLS
BEFORE THE SENATE.

OF D0th h0ueSS OF congress last week,
in which he gave definite and final
notice to the world that the United
States will not join the league of
nations. He advocated passage of the
peace declaration without delay and
blazed the way for the negotion of a
constructive foreign program based on
non-entangling features of the treaty
of Versailles.
In the existing league Of nations,
world government with its super pow
ers, this republic will have no part.
In rejecting the league? covenant,
and uttering that rejection to our own
people and to the world, We make no
surrender of our hope and aim for
an association to promote peace in
which we would most heartily join.
We are ready to cooperate with
other nations to approximate disar-
mament, but mereest prudence forbids
that we disarm alone.
Freight carrying charges have
mounted higher and higher until COM
merce is halted and production dis
couraged. Railway rates and costs of
operation must be reduced.
It is not necessary to say it to con-
gress, but 1 have thought this to be
a fitting occasion to give notice that
the United States means to establish
and maintain great merchant ma
rine.
The staggering load of war debt
must be cared for in orderly funding
and gradual liquidation. We shall
hasten the solution and aid effective
ly in lifting the tax burdens if we
strike resolutely at expenditure.
I believe in the protection of Amer
lean industry and it is our purpose
to prosper America first. Moreover,
imports should pay their fair share
of our cost of government.
There is no challenge to honest and
lawful business success. But govern
ment approval of fortunate, untram-
meled business does not mean tole-
ration of restraint of trade or of
maintained prices by unnatural
methods.
The American people expect con-
gress unfailingly to voice the graft
tude of the republic in generous and
practical way to its defenders in the
world war, who need the supporting
arm Of the government.
Democrats See Joker in Aariff.
House Democrats bound themselves
through caucus action to stand against
the emergency tariff and antidumping
bill, and Representative Kitchin, of
North Carolina, minority leader. made
public simultaneously a statement OF
view. of minority members of the
ways and means committee bitterly
assailing the Republican tempory
tariff program. After the caucus, Mr..
Kitchen predicted that "less than a
dozen Democratic votes will be cast
for the Young bill" 1t is characteri-
zed as even worse than its predecess-
or, the Fordney measure, by the re-
port, which asserts that if any ad-
vantage will inure anywhere from the
new proposal, it will be to "the trusts
spectators, and profteers."
Figures are prdesented purporting
to show that increase in living costs
resulting from such law would be
about two billion year.
The statement says that the bill
would hand "gratuity" of s125, 5,00O,-
900 annually to the sugar trusts,
$55o,oO0.OO0 annually to the "meat
and beef trust, the packers" and more
than s100,O00,000 a year to the in
come of the "woolen trust" On fix
ing the volume of present foreign
money, the report says the clause is
q Joker to prevent trade with the CEN
tral powers, and adds:
"The German mark is quoted as be-
ing worth 1.62 cents. If this provi-
sion of the bill becomes a law. the
secretary of the treasurey would be
compelled to calculate the German
mark as worth eight cents, for the
bill states that the depreciation in no
case can be estimated at more than
66 2-3 per cent.
Democrats to Aid Harding
Chairman George White, of the
Democratic national committee, who
is confering with the Democratic
leaders in the senate and house here
in Washington, has stated that aside
from purely organization activity the
efforts of the national committee will
'be intended to be helpful to" Presl-
dent Harding. 81 am sure" he add
ed, "that, with its manifold and con-