The Washington herald., 1921-11-01
new TARIFF BLOC
WANTSH HCHDUTY
ONSOILPRODUCTS
Republican Senators As
sert Farmer Needs
Protection, Too.

Inspired by their success in fore
ing alterations in the revenue bill,
score Of Senators from agricuI-
tural States have determined to in
sist on a permanent schedule Of
tariff duties on farm products
higher than any in the history Of
the country.
The Senators are all Republicans.
and are all from Western States
The bloc is different from the agra
riRn group because il includes no
Democrats. The tariff is regarded
as a partisan matter, SO the Re-
publicans will operate independ-
entity. They expect however. support
from Democrats who are interested
in protection for cotton, cattle and
other farm products.
Prevent Row on Floor.
Unlike the situation when the
revenue bill was under considera-
ton by the Senate Finance Com
mittee, the views Of the Senators
from farming States have bern
solicited in connection with the
tariff. They were invited to get to-
gether, decide what they wanted,
and inform the committee before the
bill was reported out. This pro-
cedure would avoid a repetition Of a
row on the floor like that which
threatened to wreck the revenue bill.
The Western Republican Senators.
meeting yesterday, decided on a
schedule Of rates twice as high as
those in the Payne-Aldrich tariff,
the previous Republican. measure,
and 20 per cent higher than those
contained in the permanent tariff
bill which has been passed by the
House. These duties would be
levied: Cattle. Ifveweight. cents
pound; fresh beef and veal. 2 cents
a pound; butter, 10 cents a pound:
fiaNSeed, 40 cents a bushel: beans, ,
cents a pound; sheep. 50 a head;
fresh mutton, 2h cents a pound
hogs. Hveweight, u cent a pound
bacon and ham, 2 cents a pound /:
fresh pork, l cent a pound: hides, ?
cents a pound dry and 6 cents fresh.
To Extend Emergency Law.
The Senators decided also to in
sist on consideration Of the bill
extending the life of the emergency
tariff, now in force, as soon as the
anti-beer bill is enacted in the
Senate. The anti-beer bill, under
agreement, will have first treat
ment as soon as the revenue bill
Is out Of the way. The tariff ex-
tension measure has been enacted
by the House. II provides that the
emergency schedules. which would
automatically die November 81.
shall remain in force until the
permanent tariff is on the statute
books.
The decision TO put ahead the
emergency tariff may run counter
to the plans OF leaders. They have
been 'endeavorinE to have the SEN
already passed by the House. in ac-
eordance with thesw!shes OF Presi.
dent Harding.
Answer Eastern Senators.
Western Senators believe the
schedule of rates they have prot
posed will be adopted. Manufactur-
ing industries, they argue, are de-
manding high protection. and the
farming industry is entitled to the
same sort of treatment This will
be their reply to the contention OF
manufacturing sections that high
tariff on farm products will In
crease the cost Of living.
The Senate Finance Committee Is
to resume hearings on the perma'
nent tariff this week. Testimony
on the wool schedules. which was
to have been taken today, has been
postponed until Thursday. After
that the committee will work con-
tinuously on the bill until II Is
ready for presentation to the Sem
ate. .E