Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-26
PLAINLY G. O.P.
HEADS TO HALT
TARIFF REVISION
Fearful That Newly-Enact-
ed Measure May Affect
Their Reelection
WORLD CONDITIONS
Another Reason For Delay Is Lack
OF Information For q ScIentlhc
Law.

Washington, Nov. 26-Postpone-
meDt of permanent tariff legislation
for another year is being seriously
considered ~ Republican leaders OF
Congress. It has been assumed that
the Senate would take up the house
Tariff bill early in December, but 1t
was learned today there is much op-
position to this program. The FER
manent Tariff bill passed by the
House several months ago may be
sidetracked for a full year There are
several reasons why influential Re
publicans of the two bodies of Con-
gress hesitate to tackle tariff reVl-
sion at this time. These include:
Industrial conditions throughout the
world are still unsettled; the mad
visibility of going into campaign
next year with an untried tariff law
on the books; extension of the farm
ers' emergency tariff which removes
the pressure from agriculture for
permanent revision; lack of informa-
tion upon which to base a scientific
tariff law.
It is understood that just before the
adjournment Of Congress last We'd
nesday a Republican member OF the
Finance Committee made formal mo-
tion that the Tariff bill now before
the committee be laid aside until
1923.
While the idea in mind met with
considerable support, it is understood
that a formal declaration to that eff
feet at this time was regarded as in
advisable and it was decided not to
make any public declaration of pol
icySjust yet 1t is expected that the
motion was withdrawn by its author.
Senator Pat Harrison, of Mississip-
pi, apparently heard of the DISPOSE
ton to postpone the permanent tariff
measure, for he grilled Senator Boies
Penrose, of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the Finance Committee, on his plans
with reference to that bill.
Senator Harrison asked Senator
Penrose whether it is the intention of
the Finance Committee to hold hear
ings on the Revenue bill during the
recess of Congress, which will run
from now until December 5. The
Pennsylvania replied that majority
Of the committee would remain in
the city and could hear witnesses if
any appeared and wanted to be heard.
Senator Harrison next inquired
whether the Finance Committee chair
man could give an approximate date
when the Tariff bill would be reported
by that committee to the Senate for
passage Senator Penrose said he could
not fix any date just now.
One feature of the Permanent Tar
if act as passed by the House which
is creating considerable pressure on
the Senate Finance Committee in
favor Of keeping the bill pigeon
holed" for another year is the Ameri-
can valuation clause. Under that pro-
vision of the bill if it should be en-
acted into law the duties on all i'm
ports from foreign countries would be
fixed on their value in American dol
lars at the port of entry into the
United States.
1t is claimed that because of the
low cost of manufacturing in many
countries of Europe as measured by
American dollars this would have the
effect of putting tariff duties excess
sively high on imports. Such tariff
walls, which would be higher in rates
than many prohibitive duties in the
days when high protective duties were
the order, are feared by Republicans
whose districts incline more to free
trade ideas than old-style protection
ism.