Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-25
Must Delay Either
Tariff or Taxes



10 which is likely to happen. Gener-
10 more needed by the country than tariff
legislation, but II Is doubted whether
the tariff can be displaced.
What will happen TO the Tariff Bill in
the Senate is clearly Indicated by what
happened to IL on the floor OF the
House. The votes In the House de-
veloped an expected strength for lower
duties The members OF the House,
as usual, had very little to say about
what the tariff duties in detail should be
except on certain schedules. Mr.. Ford
news biIl reached the floor upon n you
must take it or leave It" basis. Under
the rule, amendments generally were
impossible. Certain schedules only were
omen 70 change. And where changes
were possible the members inevnriabiy
rejected Mr.. Fordney's proposed rates
and cut duties or restored articles to the
free list.
Bslk Tariff on Lumber
The first sign Of this temper devel-
oped over the proposed duties on lum-
ber, Such storm arose over TINS
schedule while the bill was still in COM
mittee that the Fordney committee
bowed to It and abandoned its plan to
put a tariff upon lumber.
OIL was q similar fighting point. The
oil producing States of the Southwest
wanted protection against Mexican OIL:
Their argument was that the cheap fuel
oil from Mexico depressed the price of
fuel oil so in this country that they
could not sell their fuel oil at profit,
and that. consequently. the price of
gasoline. the other main product Of their
wells. was forced up. President Hard
ing personally took a hand in this dis
pute. And in the end the FOrdncy
committee was beaten and oil kept on
the free list.
The agrarian bloc which wanted du-
ties upon hides and upon long staple
cotton were also beaten in what was
one of the hardest of the tariff fights.
The farmer desired a duty which would
advance the price of hides about 81.
Pyramided as such duties are before
they reach the consumer 1t was figured
that this would advance the cost OF
shoes about eighty cents pair.
Manufacturers Wary
OF course, il would be illogical to
place a duty on hides without a Corre-
spending duty on shoes. \ Combina-
tion was sought between the farming
interests and the shoe manufacturing
interests on the basis Of duties both on
hides and on shoes. But not enough
votes could be got together 70 carry
the Fordney schedules on leather
through and hides went upon the free
list
The Eastern manufacturer is wary.
He sees possibilities Of sales abroad and
does not look with favor upon duties
which will increase his costs OF pro-
duction This wariness upon his part
vas resnonsihlp also for the defeat of
the farmer group upon protection for
long staple cotton.
The biggest item over which the
Senate will dispute will be the American
valuation feature of the Fordney bill.
No one knows precisely what American
valuation means or how il can he on e
forced. Generally. it is regarded as a
device for advancing duties.
The low tariff sentiment in the Senate
will show itself against the Fordney :
American valuation plan which may go
out of the bill.
Certain mineral schedules in the bill
which could not be attacked in the
House will be assailed in the Senate.
Protection for potash is especially OBJ
jscted to as the production of potash
Is limited in this country and duties
on it mean higher cost Of fertilizers.
Must Have Reciprocity
The longer the Tariff Bill is DELAYED
the less interest exists in higher duties
The country is coming more and more
to see that it's interest lies in access tC
foreign markets and foreign nation
cannot buy bere il they nre not per
mitted 10 sell here.
The high duty sentiments is confined
10 the professionals of the Fordney