Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-28
SIMMONS AND SUGAR
SALIENT SYMPTOMS
IN SENATE SYPOSIuM

Washington, Jan. 27-The F'ordney
emergency tariff bill was theoretical
ly before the Senate today but was
discussed only in speech by Sem
ator Simmons, Democrat North
Carolina, and in a brief debate on
sugar items. Speeches were SO far
ofield at one time that Senator Nc
Cumber. Republican, North Dakota,
declared the senators had discussed
everything from negroes to battle
ships" and asked why the tariff
should not be taken UP.
During the session. Senator Borah,
Republican, Idaho. spoke at length
on the general subject of disarma-
uent into which other senators were
drawn into debate. Senator Walsh.
Democrat, Montana, discussed the
landlord tenant laws Of the District
of Columbia and Senator Ransdell,
Democrat, Louisiana. entered an EN-
Ihatic. denial TO published statements
which he declared, had sought to
link the Louisiana senators with the
big sugar interests.
Tariff debate, however, was not
without pointed argument, Senator
Simmons speech of more than two
hours being directed at what he
termed the iniquities of the proposed
legislation. He charged that Con-
gress would be exceeding it's power
in cnacting such legislation and as
serted that its provisions were con-
iiscatory in that they would compel
consumers to pay tribute
The North Carolina senator took
Senator McCumber to task for his
attitude on wheat protection. He
argued that Mr.. McCumber was sup
porting legislation which not only
would increase the price of bread
and cereals, but would place the
United States in q position to suffer
retaliation at the hands of Canada.
from which Mr.. McCumber has said
the dangerous wheat importations'
come.
Denying the statements of Mr.. Nc
Cumber that Canadian prices were
lower than those in the United States
Mr. Simmons quoted official statistics
to show that prices had varied little
between Minneapolis and Winnipeg.
This country, the senator added, is on
an exporting basis and therefore ri,t
slight difference between the pric rs
would have no effect.
Our market is Liverpool" he con-
tinued. 1T does not matter wheth-
er the Canadian wheat goes direct to
J,il or fbrn11Dh 10 nj T..
ed States and is milled here. The tar
i1f proposals will not stop that, and
if they do, it means we will have 70
Pay more for our bread and flour
Senator King, Democrat, Utah,
asked during the discussion whether
it would mot be proper for the gov
aernment to take care of the unem
Eoyed with a pension If it were so
ing to take care of the wheat farmers
and the Louisiana sugar growers" He
declared Congress should never es-
tablish such precedent and asserted
that the losses of other lines of trades
were equally as important.
Mention of Louisiana sugar brought
from Senator Ransdell the declara-
ton that if the congress could do
anything to relieve the agricultural
industry. it ought to do so. He said
he did not believe present conditions
would last forever and the farmers
should betided over the emergency.
The debate then turned into an open
forum on sugar and Senator Pen.ose,
chairman of the finance committee,
followed yesterdays tactics in asking
a recess, thus keeping the bill before
the Senate as unfinished business.
Just prior to the recess, Senator
Spencer, Republican, Missouri, intro
duced another amendment to afford
protection of two cents a pound on
sunflower seed and twenty cents a
gallon on oil from sunflower seed
During the day. Senator Penroso
circulated a petition to invoke :he
cloture rule and limit senators to one
hours debate each on the bill but
tho rpovapoopt had not dayalnna I cori