Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-30
Senate Has Days
Consideration of
FOOdstuH Tariff

; Washington, June 29-Tariffs on
foodstuffs occupied the attention of
the Senate again today with commit
tee raes on mild, cream, poultry and
honey receiving overwhelming en-
dorsement despite fights from the
Democratic side and some opposition
from the ma jority side in the case on
rate on cream.
Duties approved were:
Milk, fresh IL cents a gallon;
House rate one cent; sour and butter
milk one cent a gallon, House rate
enc half cent; cream % IL cents a
gallon, House rates from five to ten
cents; milk powder five cents a
pound, House rate eight cents.
Poultry, alive, three cents pound.
House rate two cents; dressed, six
cents a pound, House rate four
cents; all other poultry dressed, eight
cents per pound, House rate 20 per-
cent ad valorem; poultry prepared
or preserved and not specially pro-
vided for, 81 percent ad valorem.
House rate - percent.
Honey, three cents pound, House
rate : 2 cents.
Debate over milk and cream duties
developed a controversy among New
England senators, with Senator
Walsh, Democrat. massachusetts,,
leading the fight to reduce the rates,
ana Senator Dillingham;, Republican,
Vermont, supporting the committee
duties.
Senator Lodge, Massa chusetts, the
Republican leader, sought to have re
duced the rate on cream used for
household purposes, but his amend
meat to provide for 10 cents gallon
on all imported cream not used for
the manufacture of butter was re
jected, 50 to 10.
Explaining that New England did
not produce sufficient cream to sup
ply the demand during the summer
months, Senator Walsh argued that
the duty proposed would be a penalty
on the people of New England
amounting TO $1S,756,0 900 annually.
lie charged also that this was only
another evidence of the policy of the
Republicans a S eXemplitied in the
tariff bill to destroy trade with Can
ada and presented figures designed to
show that the operation of the emer-
cenCy tariff had cut that trade in
half.
Senator Lodge took issue with this
statement. asserting that the fall off
of rade with Canada was due to an
abnormal world trade condition
which had affected commerce be
tween all the nations since the period
Of stimulation Immediately following
the war. The Republican leader de-
clared that the United States had no
intention of being isolated CONNER
cially and argued that he pending
bill would not bring about such a re-
suit
I'VE can maintain our trade and
build up our prosperity under this
bill" he continued, adding that the
first thing the United States should
do in order to maintain her position
commercially and economically, was
to see that her people were employed.
Discussion of the proposed duty on
honey brought forth considerable sar-
casm from the Democratic side, SEN
ator Stanley of Kentucky, remarked
that no doubt the duty was designed
to sustain the higher Standard of liv-
ing Of the American honey bee and
he declared that the utter indiffer-
ence in the Democratic party to the
American honey bee is pathetic"
Senator Hitchcock, Nebraska, gave
as his opinion that the duty was de-
signed to protect the American bee
from the German bee. which, he
said, necessarily enjoyed much
lower living cost than the American
bee.
Senators Johnson and Shortridge
Of California, Republicans, defended
the committee rate. Senator John
son declared the condition of the in
dustry in his state was not a matter
for laughter; that it was extremely
serious and hat importations were
threatening its very existence.