Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-06-23
ROCKVILLE, MD
Senator Norris Speech Against
ProfIteers' Tariff Bill.

One Of the briefest and one Of the best
speeches made in the Senate against
the pending Fordney McCumber Profiteers'
Tariff Bill was made by Senator George
W. Norris, Republican. Of Nebraska, dis
cussine the rates on shotguns, rifles, etc.
The House bill imposed the following
high rates: On shotguns valued at more
than SIS, $l.50 each; valued at more than
SIS and not more than $40, 81 each;
valued at $40 and not more than SIS. So
each; valued at more than SIS, $40 each,
with an additional ad valorem rate Of 35
per cent, which the Senate Committee
made AS per cent.
In his best ironical vein. Senator Norris
said:
Il am surprised that the Senator (Mr.
Simmons) does not understand II. OF
course. it is not for protection, because we
send guns all over the world. We COM
mand the worlds market in guns. There
is no protection in it.. II is not for reve-
nue.. of course. because none are imported I;
but the Senator forgets-and this applies
to good many other things in this bill
that there is another reason that might
have a practical effect, and am surprised
that the Senator does not understand 1t.
Has he forgotten the men who are engaged
in making guns in this countryi Has he
forgotten that the war is over and that
their market is probably somewhat inter-
fered with. and that they need some as
sistance from somebody Does not the
Senator realize, too, that while there are
no guns imported. because they cannot
compete with US, there are, nevertheless.
people in other countries who make guns
I'VE have this market. We are reach
ing out to get the balance Of the world
We want tariff away up high so that we
can raise the price here and still keep out
the foreigner, while we 60 out into the
foreigners country and sell guns at less
than cost and put him out Of business.
We could not do that II we did not have
the American fellows here toiling and
working to make up here what we lose
abroad. and hence we have TO have this. II
is necessary. II we can raise the tariff high
enough to keep out the other fellow. and
raise the price here up to the level Of the
tariff wall and compensate ourselves while
we 90 out and conquer the rest Of the world
in the gun business. when we have driven
the other fellows out of business In their
home countries. which may take some time,
we can increase the price there. We could
not do that without losing some money
unless we had this thing in the bill. and
SO we have 1t in here.
1T may be pretty hard on the fellows
who want to buy guns to shoot prairie
dogs and rabbits, but it is a splendid
thing for the millionaire who mekes the
gun. The Senator has forgotten about
that, and while he is travelling out to
gather in the world market we will toll
and sweat and work and labor and keep
the wolf from his door. That is why we
have this tariff, not only on guns but on
- c~NN HHuhy OahCA htihkos VIC dTc going
to do the same thing with sewing ma
chimes and paints. and lot of things
made out Of steel. and whole lot of other
things; and will il not be a glorious day
when that time comes. when our million
aires will control the world. and we will
60 hungry and toll while they are getting
around to do III We ought to be glad of
the opportunity to make these sacrifices.
We ought TO rejoice that we are the in
strumentalities by which these men will
not only profteer but continue to profiteer
They have US captured now. We want
them to capture everybody else and let
everybody pay tribute to their greatness
and to their grandeur.
The Senator from North Carolina has
not erasped the idea yet He ought, il
seems to me to be able to understand. and
he will when he gets as old as am and
lives as long as | have, that one of the
blessings that come TO US through such
legislation as this is that for every drop
OF sweat and every bit Of toll that our
people 60 through and all the suffering
they have to endure they are going to be
able to see somebody living high and fly
ing with the 9eese