The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-21
FOrdney and Esch-Cummins
Acts Focus of Politics.
Revision of Transportation Bill
Depends on Supreme Court.
Be CONTEST WITH STATES
Democrats to Stage Big Fight
Against Embargo Act.
Friends Admit 1t Will Hike
Prices to Consumers.

Washington, March 21.-President
Harding suggested today to Chairman
Fordney that the house ways and
means committee sound out the SEN
ate Republicans as to the feasibility
of early passage of an emergency
tariff that would take care of farmers.
Revision of the rate making provi-
sions of the -Cummins railroad
law probably will be forced on the
new congress; railroad experts here be-
lieved today.
Just what this revision is to be will
depend upon decision of the supreme
court in a case brought by the state
railroad commissions of Wisconsin
and fortv-two other states attacking
the oonstitutionality of rate provisions
of the present law.
Rates the Big Issue.
The decision will determine wheth-
or congress can give the interstate
commerce commission power to fix
intrastate as we'll as interstate rates
The commission claims such a power
is valid. while the states claih- it in
vades their sovereign rights.
The commission accordingly during
the last nine months has increased in
trastate rates over protests of state
commissions. In case this action is
not upheld, rates undoubtedly will be
reduced in many states making radi-
cal changes necessary in the federal
commissions plan of rate making.
Should the rates be upheld, railroad
leaders in congress will propose state
railroad commissions be made agencies
of the federal commission. The state
commissions would be empowered to
inquire into strictly intrastate rate
controversies and make recommended
tions to the federal commission. I'm
less some such legislation is passed
after a decision favorable to the fed
eral commission, state railroad COM
missions probably would die Of mac
ton.
Democrats Force Issue.
Democrats. probably with aid of a
few Republicans, will insist on tell
ing the consumer all about it, when
congress takes up embargo legislation
or a new emergency tariff bill.
Democrats planned today to prolong
debate on the measures while they
ceaselessly pound home the fact that
an embargo will raise prices to con-
sumers. Senator Harrison. Mississippi,
who led the fight against the emer-
gency tariff in the last congress, will
again be in the forefront of the bat
tile. Senator Underwood. Democratic
leader. will be another battler.
They will take as an instance, the
case of wool for which there is proba-
bly, the most demand for an embargo
and try to show that while it will raise
the price OF clothes, II VIII beneflt the
grower but little. They will charge
that wool manufacturers having
bought large quantities at low price.
now seek to raise prices by means of
an embargo. thus cutting foreign
competition and enabling them to dis
pose of the low priced stores attempt
ing higher prices
Needed To Save Farmers.
Friends of the emba rgo and tariff
proposals. do not deny it will raise
prices. But while admitting this. they
say the measures are necessary to save
farmers from ruin and insure plant
ing of crops adequate to demands of
the nation.
Meanwhile. there are Indications
that members of President Harding 9
cabinet doubt the advisability of an
old-fashioned tariff. They believe So
luton of the farmers problem lies
not in cutting off importations but in
opening UP European markets to
American goods.
Secretary of War Weeks in a speech
at Pittsburgh Saturday, gave a veiled
warning that present conditions call
for something more than tariff re-
vision.
on the same day, Secretary of
Commerce Hoover meeting with bust
ness men, laid tentative plans for
opening up of European markets to
American goods