New-York tribune., 1921-03-20
Harding Said
ToPlanQuick
Farmers Aid
President Conrers With
Capper and Delegation
From Kansas on Proposal
for Emergency Tariff
Effort Will Be Opposed
McCumber Holds Cloture
Rule Could Be Invoked
to Prevent Senate DELAY
From TIE Tribune's Washinoton Bx,.nu

From Ihe 1vibune's Washinoton Bxysau
WASHINGTON, March 49, Presi-
dent Harding is strongly inclined to
favor the passage by Congress of an
emergency bill for tariff on agricul-
tural products. This was the impress
sion gained to-day by delegation
from Kansas. headed by Senator Can
per, that called at the White House to
lay before the Chief Executive the
difficulties from which the farmers now
are suffering. They described to the
President the hardships which farm
ers in the Central West are undergo
ing and left the Executive Offices with
the impression that the President would
urge an emergency tariff act.
At recent meeting of the Wavs
and Means Committee and Finance
Committee members the predominant
sentiment was against emergency tariff
action. The President is strongly dis
posed to upset the plans agreed on at
that meeting. Secretary of Agriculture
Wallace and other authorities on the
agricultural situation have impressed
on the President the Fact that condi-
tlons in the agricultural states are
grave.
McCumber Expects Action
Senator McCumber, prominent on
the Senate Finance Committee. who
has taken the lead in working for a
tariff on agricultural products, said
this afternoon, following conference
with Secretary Mellon, that he had no
doubt the President could get an emer-
gency tariff measure passed with little
delay. He holds that it is practicable
to apply cloture rule to shut off de-
bate in the Senate. Senator McCumber
has so informed both the President and
Secretary Mellon.
Senator McCumber said he believed
the anti-dumping legislation should be
passed first. He thought there would
be little controversy over it, He be-
lieves an emergency tariff measure
should then be passed to take care of
believed, if President Harding insisted,
it would be possible to get cloture
rule and limit debate.
1t is the understanding that the
President believes the. emergency tariff
bill should be confined to wheat, wool,
hides and small number of other ag-
ricultural products. He is opposed to
loading it down with long list of
products which either do not need pro-
lection or can get along until permA-
nent tariff revision is provided for.
Livestock Men Ask Aid
President Harding to-day was urged
by delegation of livestock men to es-
tablish an embargo as a means of
bringing relief to the American agri-
culturists and cattle raisers and to
give his support to the proposed. repeal
of Section 15A of the railroad trans
portation act, which section has to do
with rates. In the delegation were
Senator Capper, Of Kansas; Judge Sam
uel H, Cowan, of Texas, general coun-
sci for the American National Live
stock Association and secretary of the
National Livestock Shippers Associa-
ticn; 7. A. Tomlinson, of Denver, sec
retary of the American National Live
stock Association, and j. H. Mercer, of
Topeka, chairman of the Kansas Live
stock Association.
The Presidents attention was direct
ed by the delegation to the situation
which these men view as extremely Sc
rious, because of the tremendous quan-
titles of beef and grain being shipped to
this country from foreign ports. The
President said he fully appreciated
their apprehension and asked them to
submit to him a complete plan for the
bringing about of the relief desired.