The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-15
WOOL DEALER IS
AGAINST HARDING
TARIFF RATE PLAN
Manufactures Says 1t Is Elm
practicable and Undeslr-
abIe"-Keep Industry
In State of Unrest
BY Associated Press

Washington, December 14.-Presi-
dent Harding's proposal to Congress
that he be given authority to adjust
tariff rates as changing conditions
might warrant 10 ealtogether inl-
practicable and undesirable" John
p. Wood of Philadelphia, president
Of the National Association Of Wool
manufacturers declared today before
the Senate finance committee on the
wool hearing of the permanent tariff
bill.
such authority would keep indus
try in a state of unrest at all times
Mr. Wood said. "snd would result In
constant pressure for change In rates
being brought to bear on the Presi-
dent and the tariff commission which,
, under Mr.. Harding's proposal, would
recommend the changes in rates TO
the President within the Limitations
of maximum and minimum figures to
be fixed by Congress.
ANY plan that takes out OF the
! hands of Congress the power to Tx
rates for a definite time would be
unsettling to business" Mr.. Wooa
| continued There would be con-
slant hearings before the tariff com
mission and we feel that the COM
mission would make no more rapid
progress in reaching decisions than
| the Interstate commerce commission
makes and everybody knows how fast
that is"
| Senator'S smoot of Utah and Watson
I of Indiana, republican members OF
the committee, differed with Mr..
Wood, arguing that the plan pro-
posed would result in less uncertain
| ty for business in this country than
would otherwise follow the Iiquida-
ton in Europe and the changing
values of currency abroad.
Delegate Authority
Senator Smoot declared that under
present conditions Congress would
have to delegate authority as to tariff
rates in some such manner as sug-
gested by the President
While agreeing that business here
would have to suffer some measure
Of decentralization because of condi-
tions overseas. Mr.. Wood said he
did not believe present conditions
would last as long as some students
thought they would.
what we are most concerned
with" he added is that there shat
be an adequate and balanced tariff
as speedily as possible and we fear
that any new element in the situa-
ton will cause delay"
In a formal statement read to the
committee, Mr.. Wood suggested in
| a al
in the Fordney bill be rewritten on
the old grease basis instead OF on the
basis OF the clean secured content
and that higher compensatory rates
be granted on manufacturers of WOO
He did not suggest any specific basic
rate on raw wool, saying merely that
his association advocated wool
duties adequate to protect the do
nestle industry of sheep husbandry."
He approved of the American valua-
ton plan as "the only feasible method
suggested to offset the depreciating
foreign currency"
Protests Against Rate
Protesting against the basic rate
Of rs cents a pound on clean raw
wool proposed by the Fordney bill
William Goldman, clothing manu-
facturer of New York said that II
would mean a tax of $3.50, 900, 600 on
ne annual clothing bill of the Amer
lean people in order to protect a
growing industry with an, annual
output valued at SOS, 600"
Declaring that there was mo limit
to the audacity Of the representatives
of the wool growers" Mr.. Goldman
declared their request for protection
were "absurdly extravagant" and pre-
posterous
Senator Smoot took exception 70
Mr.. Goldman's figures and charged
that whatever profiteerlng was done
was not done by the growers. He
thought retailers were responsible
for much of it, but Mr.. Goldman de.
MED that they were PROTECTING.