Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-07-15
Minority Report Says Tariff Bill
viii Benefit Favorites.

Democratic members of the Ways and
Means Committee in a minority report.
filed last Friday in the House of Repre-
sentatives. denounced the Administration
tariff bill as conspiracy to benefit few
favorites at the expenses of all humanity"
Like every conspiracy, it has been
Matched in secrecy" the report says. adj
ding:
I'VE record our solemn judgment that
this measure is a plan to plumber the peo-
pie of our own country, and to Cypress the
people Of every country for the benefit of
a few men who have succeeded in usurp-
ing for all practical purposes the taxing
power of this Government. using it pri-
marily to enrich themselves. and, second
arily, to finance the political party which
tolerates, encourages and facilitates the
usurpation."
The report declares the tariff was not
an issue in the last campaign and that
this is not the time to write tariff law.
They assert that the problems which CON
front our people, cripple our industry. stiie
our commerce and perplex an amiable Ad-
ministration have nothing to do with the
tariff"
Criticizine the Republican majority of
the committee for Withholding the bill
from them and from the House membership
generally. and for permitting only week
for its study. the Democratic members de-
clare there has been insufficient time to
draft substitute. They do not undertake
any detailed discussion of the individual
schedules in the bill. combining their e.
page typewriter report to a general in
dictment of the whole measure and the
manner of its preparation.
Emphasis is laid upon two things-the
probable effect Of the bill on American
commerce and the world industrial situa-
ton generally. and upon the substitution
of the system Of American valuation as a
basis for levyine tariff duties.
Pointing to the rapidly decreasing Amer
lean foreign trade. the report says, I'VE
need no tariff to cut off the imports and
the exports Of the United States Calling
attention to the foreign trade Of the United
States fell from 81, ,449 last July
to $527.378.S25 in May. 1921. the report
says:
Certainly the natural process is prefer
able to the infected knife Of interested
surgeons which by selecting the industries
to protect and those to destroy, can reap
the harvest their campaign contributions
seeded last fall Verify. the oil men are
entitled to their reward. and the lumber
men, the wool men, and all the others who
cast their bread on the waters of a Repub-
lican tide"
Dealing with the plan for American
valuation of imports the report says:
First among the subtle covert infamies
that mask their way through this bill is
the proposal to change the base for ad
valorem duties from the actual price paid
for them when purchased by the importer
to speculative. indefinite. uncertain,
nebulous opinion reached by an appraiser
hidden in the recesses of a custom house.
In the face Of the uncertainty which
this bill necessarily compels as to duties.
it, will be impossible for any importer to
continue in business, and the result of this
provision will be the destruction of the
import trade of the United States"
ind hat . ta k.te al,
ITO declare savage commercial war upon
the whole human family" the Democratic
minority says it is doubtful "if in the his
tory of political affairs a measure so ire
deemably and universally vicious has ever
been submitted to the law-making power
Of civilized society"
Charging that the bill was prepared out
side the Ways and Means Committee. the
minority report says the manner of its
making up cannot be defended"
The Democrats say in their report that
they vainly sought to have the committee
refer the bill to the Treasury Department
with view to obtaining information as to
the probable amount of revenue to be de-
rived. as well as the economic effort upon
the country. They also said that they
sought to obtain action through the COM
mittee from which the rates and classical
tons in the bill might be compared with
the Underwood and Payne-Aldrich laws.
1T seems" the report says, that the
majority prefer not to give information to
the House touching the provisions of this
bill and this is very natural position for
them to take. since II the membership of
the House, or the country. really knew the
meaning and effect of its classification,
rates and general provisions. they would
repudiate ii in the most pronounced
fashion"
GchOO1 Maffara