Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-01-24
Watson in
Attack on
New Tariff
Pennsylvania Member of the
House Bitterly Opposed to
Growing Sentiment for
Reciprocal Duties.
Opposes Further Credit
THREE CENTS


Chicago Tribune Omaha Rec Leased Wire.
Washington, Jan. 2S.--Rcprcsenta-
tive Watson OF Pennsylvania, re-
publican member OF the house ways
and means committee, took issue to-
day with the growing sentiment for
reciprocal tariffs. Mr.. Watson, who
is one of the old-time protcctionists
on the committee which is framing
the new tariff law, declared that he
did, not agree with the views of those
whb favored sSuch an adjustment OF
duties as will facilitate the payment
of the debt owed the United States
by foreign nations.
Mr.. Watson made the flat assertion
that he believed it would be cheaper
to cancel the debt rather than to
have it paid in goods which would be
brought into this country in COM
petition with the products OF Ameri
can industries.
Representative Watson's views are
similar to those held by Representa-
tlNC L VI uIltN VI NllNilIkdll, Aitd II man
! of the ways and peans committee.
Take Contrary View.
A contrary view, however, is held
by Representative Longworth OF
Ohio and ether republican members
of the committee who, while favor
ing protection Of American indus.
tries most i'll need Of it, yet wish to
encourage foreign trade through
system Of reciprocal or bargaining
tariffs. They, believe that many in
dustries. through the larger opporS
tunities afforded in foreign markets,
can get along without the same de-
gree of protection which they have
desired in the past.
"A national debt Of $24,068,000, 900.
including Sc, 5S0000,000 loaned to our
allies during the war, but not in
Guiding S4,226,0O0,0OO advances ex-
tended to them since the armistice,
presents an economic question that
emphasizes the necessity of higl,
tariffs" said Representative Watson.
The cancellation of the United
States loans to the European govern
ments by maintaining protective
duty, would be A wiser financial plan
than to invite the payment of them
by free trade policy"
Against Further Credits.
Representative Watson does not
sympathize with the agitation for
further credits to Europe, even for
'fffc 'bultiiasc OF American products.
THE old spirit OF Americanism is
passing into history" said Mr.. Wat
son. I'VE are drifting toward an
other form OF patriotism, which
needs close analysis. There is
fanatic desire among some of our
citizens to increase Our staggering
indebtedness by appropriations to }
aid Europe to rebuild and reconstruct
its industry.
while we cannot be deaf to the
appeals of starving Europe, yet VIC
must regard jealously out own al
tairs that despair and want may not
dishearten our people. 1t is for
congress to protect the American
people from ruinous taxation, op
pose further European loans. that our
credit may be maintained at home
and abroad"
Hearings This Week.
General tariff revision hearings will
he continued throughout the COM
ing week before the house ways aud
means committee Two more days
will be devoted to schedule G., re-
ldting to agricultural products and
provisions. Already two days have
been given to this schedule Only
three days were on the program for
agricultural products, but no one has
requested an opportunity to be heard
or Schedule II, which was set for
| Hesday. and consequently an extra
day has been allotted to the farm
representatives. The significance of
the lack of interest in schedule Il
lies in the fact that it relates 10
spirits, wines and other beverages.
On Wednesday and Thursday
schedule |, relating to cotton and
its manufactures, will be taken up.
Friday and Saturday will be devoted
to schedule ]. relating to flax, hemp.
jute and their manufactures.