New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-19
al(DllsePl laces
Oil ON rec
List, 1866
Republicans Aid Minority
in Defeating Fordney
Plan After Harding's
Tax Protest Is Heard

WASHINGTON, July 15.-Oil went
on the Fordney tariff free list to-day
by q House vote of more than two to
one.
Long staple cotton. on the free list
In the Ways and Means Committee
daft, however, was put on the dutiable
list at Is per cent ad valorem, with
members in doubt as to what compen-
satory rates on all cotton goods would
be considered necessary by reason of
the imposition of a tax on the raw
product. There was no explanation of
the committees action in deciding at
the last moment not to take the ordi-
nary variety of cotton such as is raised
in the South from the free list.
The real flare-up was over the oil
schedule. 1t broke at the outset of the
session, after Chairman Fordney had
presented a letter from President Har-
ding opposing the tax and suggesting
rather a bargaining provision to be
placed in his hands, to "guard against
the levy of duties against us or the i'm
position by other nations of export
tariffs which are designed to hinder
the facilitation Of trade"
ne NISC NOte Oh the contested OIL
amendment came after three and one
Garrett, of Tennessee, Democratic
leader, tried to shut off debate at once
so that the bill, he explained, might
be taken up for amendment under the
ordinary fve-minute rule, but the Re-
publicans rejected his proposal by q
straight party vote.
The first test was on an amendme ent
by Representative Carter, Democrat, of
Oklahoma, to cut the committee rates
on crude oil from 35 to 25 cents and
fuel oil from rs 10 20 cents a barrel
The Carter proposal won, 143 to At
Democrats supporting it solidly on the
ground that in event the free oil amend
ment offered by Representative Tread
way, of Massachusetts, Republican
member of the Ways and Means Com
help to obtain lower duty than fixed
in the bill.
Free Oil Wins, 1876 to Sc
But there never was any doubt Of the
temper of the House on the oil Ques-
ton. The Treadway proposition was
adopted with votes to spare-187 to 79
on a stand-up count, but Chairman
Fordney, on the losing side, demanded
tellers. The count as members
marched down the aisle was 1876 to So
About half the Republican member
ship of the committee, which imposed
the tax after the bill had been printed
and after the duty earlier had been re-
jected, joined Republican insurgents
and almost a solid minority in throw
ing out the duty. Representative Gar
ner, of Texas, ranking Democrat on
the committee, stood, however, with the
al 10, oJuOno+oc lo6 hu p
tive Chandler, of Oklahoma. 1t was at
the latter's insistence that the eleventh
hour duty was put into the bill to pro-
tect Southwestern wells.
Citric Acid Change Held Up
With oil out of the way the House
was plunged into great disorder over g
amendment offered by Representative
Longworth, of Ohio, member of the
committee, to increase the rate on cit
ric acid. Submission of it as a com
mittee amendment, whereas no full
meeting of the committee had been
held, Mr.. Garner declared, violated the
right of minority members. Repre-
sentative Garrett also denounced it as
calculated "to destroy parliamentary
government"
The Garner point of order was sus-
tanned, after which Chairman tOrdney
announced that at two meetings of the
committee, pending passage of the bill,
the Democratic members would be ad-
mitted.
Long staple cotton was transferred
from the free to the dutiable list by a
vote of 105 to "a, both parties again
being split up. The duty would only
apply to cotton of one and eighth
inch staple, although several attempts
were made to increase the length of
the staple and thereby reduce the
amount of the comm modify coming under
the protection. All were defeated, how
ever, but by small margins.
approximately 100000 bales of cot
ton will be affected by the duty each
year, according to statistics offered in
the discussion.
The House tomorrow will take up
the asphalt schedule, the last of the
five on which separate votes are in
order. Then will come consideration
of committee amendments, numbering
about 200.