Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-25
'MiddleWest
.OpposedTo
Tariff Bill
Onslaught on Fordney Meas.
ure Expected at Hearings
Before Senate Finance
Committee This Week.
Fight the Valuation Plan
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.

y
of the country on the Fordney tariff
bill as it was passed by the house,
will be disclosed by the character of
the opposition to its duties and other
provisions that will be expressed by
the representatives of producers and
consumers at the hearings before the
senate finance committee, beginning
this week.
Much interest attaches to reports
that the middle west is up in arms
against the measure, on the ground
that while its products receive less
protection that those of other Sec
tlons it will be heavily taxed on its
consumption of the more highly pro-
tected manufactured goods of the
east and New England. An on
slaught on the bill from the middle
west therefore is expected.
While commencing the bill as an
improvement over the present law,
Representative Frea. of Wisconsin,
the only republican member of the
house ways and means committee
who did not sign the majority re-
port on the measure, asserted that
the senate should remove duties on
potash used for fertilizer, cement,
lime, steel, aluminium and "other ma
terials that have thrived under the
Underwood act and are controlled
by monopolies."
Mr.. Frear expressed satisfaction
with the degree of protection given
to agriculture and the free listing OF
finished lumber and asphalt.
Deny Preferences.
As a general proposition, middle
west members of congress have not
advanced the contention that the
Fordney bill was drafted in the in
terest of the east, as had been
charged in connection with some for
mer protective tariff measures. Rep
resentatives Fordney of Michigan,
Coply of Illinois and Green of Iowa,
middle western republican members
of the ways and means committee,
active in framing the measure, con-
tend that no section of the country
has been given preference over any
other. Criticisms OF the bill have
emanated so far from all sections OF
the country. The textile manufac-
turers of New England are arguing
ir the quarter of inadequate protec-
ton. --.-
Eastern manufacturing industries
complain that the western members
Of the committee have held the COM
pensatory rates on manufactured
products down too low with relation
to duties on raw materials. Some
Of the eastern members of congress |
also are critical because they think
agriculture is receiving too great a
degree of protection and that the
east pays the bill in the form OF in
creased cost of food
Agriculture Satisfied.
In general, agriculture seems fair
ly we'll satisfied with treatment, al
though the wool growers do not
like the rates on wool and the cattle
interests of the west and southwest
are displeased because the house left
hides on the free list. In the south
west there are protests because long
staple cotton was left on the free
list. The oil producers of Oklahoma
and adjacent states are dissatisfied
because the house failed to retain
duties on crude petroleum and fuel
oil.
The feature of the bill, which pos
sibly has aroused as much objection
as any other is the American valua-
ton provision. The controversy over
this is not sectional one. Import
in New York have led the
tight against the provision and have
been joined by large merchants in
Chicago and other leading cities.
of New England and
other sections of the east were chief
" instrumental in obtaining the
abandonment of the present system
Of foreign valuation, but they have
had the support also of manufacture
,rs to the west.
"The Fordney bill is not a perfect
,ill by any means" said Mr.. Frear.
The action of the house in striking
out that vicious dye embargo provi-
sion removes an objection that was
because it repudiated
he principle of protection and was
sop to recognized monopoly. 1t
would have been a heavier load to
larry, if retained, than schedule X
n the Payne bill. |,
"On the other hand, the Fordney
ill gives needed protection to agri-
cultural interests that are practically
urder ex;s+;po 1,wO