The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-29
Not a Chance Of the
FOrdney Tariff Bill
Ever Becoming Law
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The IntelIiSencer

s. rsht"s: chance thai the emergency
ia-irs oil whch passed the house and
= nuw being considered IN the senate
WI ever become \ law.
Even = the Republicans should apply
the cioturc rule and end the Democratic
G,ibuster. the inca asure would DC vetoed
by PrcS,deAI Wilson when It reached
tho White House md there IS good
deai OF evidence 4: the Democrats
would CicCfullH acc rpt clcture rGIe
and 'hasteL a veto because most OF them
sec in this bin the first party advantage
that has appeared on the political hor-
.zon since election day.
The Democrats with true pot!t;c2,
saSacity would not be adverse to seeing
the Republicans pass bill the admit
ted effect Of which might De an increase
IN the cos, OF living. Senator's simmons
of North Carolina. King OF Utah and
Harrison of Mississippi have drawn
from thcir opponents the admission
that the. passage OF the Fordncy bill.
would Increase the price of sugar 10 the
housewife and they are preparing 10
show that the measure will 20 even
further In adding 10 the burdens OF the
consuming public.
Thc truth is tina, the heart OF East
ern Rcpu5lcsuS Is not behind the bill a.
all and that thc< would like TO see IL
die Al the hands OF White House veto.
Ruc Senator Pcn~ose Is supporting Il
Just as are other Republicans from the
East because IL is dccemed advisab bic TO
maintain party solidarity for the next
session when general tariff revision in
stead OF class tariffs will be up for
discussion.
Getting Cold Feet.
Moreover. many Democrats who at
tirst intcudcd 10 vote for the Fordney
h.,
party advantage in opposing a measure
which Increases the cost of living Even
Z the bill ,houid pass the senate and
oc vetoed by the president. friends OF
Ihc measure admit there aren't enough
votes In bOth houses to make the neccs-
sary o-thirdS. Several OF the Demo-
Gratis in the house who voted for the
bill ON first rassagc viii not do 50 the
ncN, time as the Democratic ranks have
been considerably strengthened In the
interval.
Tho fact that the pending tariff bill
might benefit the sugar producers but
public was brought out strikiagiy IN the
senate debate AZ follows:
Senator King OF Utah, (Democrat):
~ have 4 great deal of confidence IN
the senator from North Dakota and IN
his desire &c IcgiSlRtc for the interes:
of the American people. | have no
doubt he has studied the question with
much care and I should like 10 ask him,
IN the light Of his study Of the question.
what effect the pending tarif bin. II It
shall be enacted into law, will have, di-
rectly and indirectly. upon the sugar
purchaSers-that IS the consuming pub
lie IN the United Statcs-to what extent
Z will raise prices:
Senator McCumbcr OF North Dakota.
tRepubl!can): Il think temporarily It
Will raise prices and naturally so.
Mr.. King, Utah; Has the senator any
idea how much the tariff duty will cos;
me consuming public and how much il
will inure to the advantage OF the sugar
producer"
Life and Death
Mr. McC'umher: To-day. Il IS ques-
Ion of life and death to tho cane sugar
producers I believe IN maintaining the
sugar industry Of the United States: l
think Z may cost the American pubic
l'trle more. just now 20 purchase taer
sugar should the bill become law. but
think It is better that We should make
he sugar industry in this country self
sustaining"
Mr.. King OF Utah: Has the senator
from North Dakota any idea OF how
many millions. tens OF millions. or hun
dreds OF millions OF dollars Will be
added 10 the burdens OF the purchasers
Of sugar as 4 result Of the enactment
az this measure?
Mr.. MctNrber: II think Il will VAR
Few hundreds Of millions II 1t adds to
their burdens at all"
Mr. King: The senator has called at
tcutiou 10 the fact that unless this
measure was passed the sugar industry
might suffer materially. May ask the
senator. whether IL EaS the purpose or
the finance committee 10 take care OF
AL business enterprises in the United
States in all lines OF industry that were
suffering during the present period Of
read adjuStment? If that DO true, then we
should take care OF the labor!ng men
who are thrown out OF employment; We
should take care Of the retailers who
without fault have suStatnedIereat loss
cs; we should take care OF the cotton
growers who have beon compelled 20
setl their cotton. II they could find
market at all. at less than the cost
price; We should be compelled 10 pay
the wool growers compensation. perhaps
BY an Appropriation for the losses they
have sustained. In other words. does
not tho senator think that If we predi-
cate our legislation upon the theory o:l
making reparation for injuries which,
have been the result OF the application
OF economic laws. We are not only pros
t!tutinE the powers OF the federal gov
ernment. but we are going far beyond
what We can possibly sccomplish?~
The Purpose.
Mr.. McCumber: The purpose OF the
committee MAS 10 afford relief to the
agricultural Industries Of the United
Stotes both in :he matter OF grain rais-
ing and sheep raising and stock raising
because We belie.ed that the depression
in prices was duo not alone to the
present gnportations but TO the immense
!mportations which were about 10 come
into the country; and we felt certain
Shat as the American grain producer
can produce all Of the grain that is
necessary 10 be consumed in the United
States and az grain Is coming in that
IS being produced very much cheaper
than it can be produced in the United
States, we ought to give to the American
farmer as much as We could the Ameri-
can market until Re could be laced up
on his feet again"
The North Dakota senator NnsIsted
moreover that these conditions will
not last frevcr." but that the tariff was
necessary as an emergency measure.
That's exactly however the reason why
the eastern Republicans In their hearts
are OPPOSED the bill just as much as
are the majority Z the Democrats. They
recognize that a particular class would
be benefited by the legislation and
that other classes would Immediately
raise even more political dust oecouse
they were neglected or Injured by the