New-York tribune., 1922-09-17
Flexible Clause
Halts Senate i'm
Tariff Debate
Simmons Asserts Conferees
Exceeded Authority i'm
Giving President Power
TO Apply u. S. Valuation
Must Vote on Question
Further Delay in the Final
Battle Is Expected When
La Toilette Begins TO Talk
From rae T~fsancs woshsa0saa Bsreaa

From rae Trsbssnc's wrossssStoA Bereda
WASHINGTON, Sept, l6.--The open
ing skirmssh in the final battle over
the tariff bill took place in the Senate
this afternoon. Senator McCumber,
chairman Of the Finance Committee,
called up the conference report, which
the House already mas accepted, and
moved that the report be ADOPTED.
Senator Simmohs, OF North Carolina,
ranking Democrat on the Finance Com
snittee, at once raised point Of order.
He made the poInt that the conferees
had exceeded their authority in the
fexible features of the bil} IN giving to
the President the power to apply
American valuation.
A long argument arose over the
point of order. Senator Cummins, in
the chair, after listening to the argu-
ments, said ne was not prepared to
rule at once, and suggested, in view Of
the fact il was late in the afternoon,
the Senate recess until Monday. This
was done.
Senator Cummins regards the point
Of order raised az q close one. and 1T is
not unlikely he will leave it to vote
of the Senate to decide.
The probabilities are that, either by
ruling Of the chair or decision of the
SENATE. che point will be overruled.
Otherwise abe bill will be sent back to
conference, snd there will be another
period IF uncertainty as to the fate OF
the measure.
Senator Simmons held that the SEN
ate placed a limitation on the power
Of the President to apply the American
valuation and confined it to dyestuffs.
He held there was no power in this
respect in the bill as it passed the
House. Hence, in throwing the meas
ure wide open to general applicatloh
of the American valuation by the
President, he contended the conferees
went far beyond the limits of their
jurisdiction.
Senator McCumber insisted the con-
ferees undoubtedly had the power, and
that this method was taken of adjust
ing the differences between the Senate
and House over American valuation
and foreign valuation
"a don't think it will ever be used"
observed Senator McCumber, referring
to the authority given to the President
to apply American valuation.
Senator Underwood, supporting the
view Of Senator Simmons, asserted
that the oonferees had gone far be-
yond their authority and that the eff
feet of SAeir proposition would be to
raise the rates beyond anything in the
House bill or the Senate bill. He
maintained the plan adopted by the
conferees was one to do by indireetion
what they had not dared do openly;
that is, to apply extremely high rates
Of duty to American valuation. He
said they had not had the nerve" to
do this directly, but the provision
they adopted, he declared, would have
dangerous effect"
Senator Lenroot made an argument
to sustain the conferees. He held
they had the power to make the ar
rsngements which they did.
The arguments to-day were largely
parliamentary, and did not reach to the
general merits of the conference re-
port. 1t is still uncertain how long the
debate will last. Senate leaders ex-
pressed confidence that the bill would