New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
Fordnev Tariff
Bill Has a Dav
Of Hard Knocks
Senator McCumber L. Only
Consistent Defender of
Measure During Debate
in Which Many Attack 1t
Minority Cries Gag Rule
Prospects of Cloture Being
Enforced To-day Causes
a Deluge of Amendments

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.--With Sen
ntor McCumber, Republican, of North
Dakota. SIS its only consistent defender
in the debate, the Forduey emergency
tariff bill went through another series
of hard knocks in the Senate to-day.
opponents accepting every opportunity
TO attack it
Whether the bill will be sidetracked
or consideration continued under limi-
tston of debate will be decided to-
morrow. when the Penrose resolution
For cloture comes to vote. The most
ardent supporters of cloture and of the
hill conceded tonight that opponents
Of the resolution TO limit future
speeches would control from eight to
Ten votes more than would be neces-
sary TO defeat cloture.
Deluge of Amendments
Prospects of cloture. however, caused
q deluge of amendments, especially
af6er President Marshall had
gufed that all amendments must be
submitted and read before the vote on
cIoture set for l O'Clock. Every SEN
alter who wanted changes in the bill,
therefore. began loading it down and
dcmsnding that they be read.
Then there was the declaration by
Scnator Townsend, Republican, Of
" Thigan, that he proposed to call up
she postofice appropriation bill for
consideration Immediately after the
cloUure vote. He criticized the Senate
TOR wasting time when important legis-
lation was pending and challenged op-
porents Of the Fordney measure TO con-
5iGoe fiibustering against Legitimate
legislation and take the consequences.
Mr. Townsend's statement precipitat-
ed a heated debate in which half 8
score of Senator'S participated. 1t was
the first day in which the bill actually
was TO the fore in all discussion ana
its enemies picked flaws in every item
Although Senator Thomas, Democrat
of Colorado, delivered q lengthy speech
agaIust it the full force Of the attacl
developed afterward and continued
until the Senate recessed.
Senator Harrison, Democrat, of Miss
issippi. answered the Townsend chal
leiIge with the accusation that the Re
publican leadership was attempting "tC
gss and ham-string the minority" ane
throw the burdens of the bill on tht
people without a full and free dis
cgssion.' He said the Republicans
with the exception of Mr.. McCumber
fad not spoken a word in behalf Of the
bill and that the North Dakota Senator
had discussed only the wheat rates.
Statisticians in Debate
Senate statisticians also got into tn,
discussion, Senators simmons, o
North Carolina, and Walsh, of Massa
chusetts, both Democrats, producing
figures to show the effect C the bill OF
living costs if it became a law. Mr.
Walsh based his calculations on the
population Of his state and declared
the measure would mean an additional
raX of $50 family, or approximately
35.G00.000 on the people of Massachu.
sets during the measures life OF ter
months.
He said it would add approximately
S1.t6 to the budget of each family OF
six for every week. The items he men
toned on which the cost would be in
creased included wheat, beans, sugar
meat, butter, milk, cheese, rice, pota,
toes and onions.
Senator Simmons presented figures
to show that the nation would be
taxed" something like $500 100000 by
tho rate Of 40 cents a bushel on whea-
III the ten months period. He said no
body could estimate what it would cos
The nation on all of the eighteen items
protected by the original measure, bu
made the guess that it would be highe
than 81 900 900 900.