Evening star., 1921-07-17
DYE EMBARGO Wins.
IN HOUSE STRUGGLE.
Confusion and Uproar Mark
Oil Duty Fight, Halted
! by Adjournment.

The House refused yesterday to
strike the three-year dyeStufS EN-"
barge from the tariff bill. by vote
of 122 to 1O6. The vote came on an
amendment proposed by Representa
tive Frear of Wisconsin, republican.
AS the vote was taken in committee
of whole and was close. 1t is likely
that when the bill goes into the
House. the final parliamentary stage,
another vote will be had on TINS
proposition.
After disposing Of the dyestuns
amendment. the House turned to the
discussion of the duty carried by the
bill on petroleum and crude oil. Ihe
fight over the oil duty was heated.
but. was halted temporarily when
by the republican majority over the
solid opposition of the democrats.
Oil Issue Forced to Front.
Representative Garrett Of Ten
nessee in charge of the democratic
minority, forced the oil issue to the
front His amendment to put crude
petroleum and fuel oil back on the
free list was thrown out on point
of order, amid the greatest CONFUSION
and uproar. For a time the House
did not seem able to tell it's legis-
lative head from it's heels. a republl-
can breaking in with a wild shout 10
know where We are at.
AS the IdTTell lEcS on aiiSieAi.
was knocked out, Representative
Treadway of Massachusetts. repuo-
lican member of the ways and means
committee. which at the eleventh hour
imposed a duty of 35 cents a barrel
on crude petroleum and % cents
barrel on fuel oil, stepped to the front
with an amendment to wipe out the
proposed tax. Being member or the
committee, he was permitted TO pre-
sent it, but was stopped at the close
ta1l hHy nj
democrats, who announced they were
prepared to shut off debate and vote.
Denounced and Defended.
In the half-hour furry the oil duty
was violently denounced and warmly
defended. Representative Robertson,
republican, of Oklahoma brought a
round of applause from those support
ing the oil tariff by attacking ne
New England policy of demanding
protection with one hand and free
trade with the other.
1t was apparent that oil took top
place in interest among the ROUSE
membership in the five contested
schedules on which separate vote
is to be permitted by the special rule.
Everybody, 1t seemed, was anxious 10
speak, and worn out by the all-daJ
wrangle over dyes, members were
ready to lay off until Monday ana
get their forces lined up for the real
The dye embargo stood up against
a combined attack by democrats
and republicans. Described by those
supporting it as a device to shackle
the vast dye interests of Germany,
It was denounced by Representative
Frear of Wisconsin. a republican
member of the ways and means
committee, and others as move TO
build up a dye monopoly in this
country.
Letter From Gen. PershinE.
Representative Langworth of Ohio,
a republican member of the ways
and means committee. read letter
from Gen. Pershing, chief Of stan, on
the Importance of the chemical in
dustry from a military standpoint.
with reference to the protection for
the dye industry in this country,
Gen. Pershing wrote. 'it can be stated
that the coal-tar products. of which
dyes are the most important at pres
ent in peace, are the basis of practi-
calIy all of our high explosives and
most of our war gases.
Our shortage of chemical plants
in general and dye plants in particu-
lar prior to the worlds war made 1t
difficult for US to obtain q supply OF
high explosives and gases until we
had been in the war for several
months"