The New York herald., 1922-06-28
House Rates Advanced by
the Senate as High as
320 Per Cent.
GOODING ADMITS CHARGES
Says This Is the First Time
the West Has Had Chance
at Tariff Bill.
Special Dispatch to THE New York HmALD
New York Herald Bureau,

Special Dispatch to THE New York HmAtD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c.. june "a.
The Senate tariff agricultural bloc
started to-day to enforce the adoption
in the Fordney- McCumber tariff bill
of duties on farm products which the
Department of Agriculture estimates
would mean an added tax on Ameri-
can householders of $1,316, 1868, ,449 a
year. This staggering amount Is
equal to $1316 for each man, woman
and child in the country.
In demanding these exceedingly high
rates on agricultural products, the
farm bloc, with the sanction of Sena-
tor McCumber (Rep., N. d., chair
man of the Senate Finance Commit
tee, put an entirely new Interpretation
on the we'll defined Republican policy
of protecting industries from disas-
trous foreign competition.
1t was admitted even by the leader
of the bloc. Senator Gooding (Rep.,
Idaho), that in fixing tariff duties on
thC kaiiltIlCdH DIOOuCllOIl
of which is In excess of the demand,
the Senate would be bestowing a spe-
cial privilege intended simply to per-
init increases in prices. On agricul-
tural products America exports 90 per
cent. of it's production.
Senator Walsh (Dem.. Mass) led the
attack on tho. agricultural schedule de-
claring It's adoption would cost the aver
age American family for the benefit Of
the farmers about $50 year, this being
based on the assumption that each
family consisted of six persons At
times he engaged in fiery debate with
Senator Gooding and with Senator Nc
Cumber, both of whom calmly admitted
that the new schedules would contribute
e. increase the cost of living.
Up 20 to $50 Per Cent.
Senator Walsh produced figures to
show that the Senate agricultural tariff
bloc had Influenced the Senate Finance
Committee to an extent that rates on
products were Increased in the Senate
bill over the House bill from 20 to $50
per cent. The rates are far in excess OF
those established by the Payne-Aldrich
tariff BILL The Underwood bill now In
force except where superseded by the
emergency tariff bill of year ago kept
farm products on the free list. Tho
estimate of the Department of Agri-
culture that s13.16 will be added to tho
cost of living for each individual Is
based therefore on a comparison with
the Underwood law.
Senator Gooding made no effort to
-. i'll .,lI LII 49,
on breadstuffs and other farm products,
admitting even that he regarded the fix
ing of tariff rate as the bestowal of
special privilege to the producer of the
commodity affected His sole defense
OF the agricultural schedule was that the
farmers need the money.
This is the first time," he said, that
the West ever has had a chance In
tariff bill. This is the first time the
East has not had the writing of the bill
entirely to itself"
-"The Senator from Idaho." Senator
Walsh declared. evidently thinks that
when n protective tariff rate is estab-
lished II is special privilege a gift of
something for somebody"
"I certainly do" Senator Gooding re-
Piled
We'll let me tell you." responded
Senator Walsh. that such a thing Is a
departure from Republican tariff poll
cles. The whole idea of n protective
tariff Is to prevent foreign competition
which might be dangerous to American
production. But the tables are re-
versed when America Is able to produce
and does produce commodities in ex-
cess of the demand. and that Is true
of agricultural products. That Is sim
ply tribute to the American farmer
60 let him raise prices"
The consideration OF the agricultural
schedule will run for two weeks at
least. and II will be the subject of in
tensve debate. 1t is regarded by the
opponents of the tariff bill as one OF
its worst features. as they say "inex-
cusable" and "indefensible."
Bloc n Little Smaller.
The high rates are the result of the
activities of the so-called Senate agri-
cultural bloc which started out some
months ago TO DO the bidding of certain
of the farmers organizations which
maintain headquarters In Washington.
The members OF the bloc at the outset
numbered twenty-five. but has been re-
duced slightly because of the natural
Senate changes. Senator Gooding as
chairman has been the most active He
is "a wool grower with many important
interests. He wanted a high duty on
wool. II was this to a large extent
that prompted him to become so active
with the bloc and TO lay down the
law to the Senate Finance Committee
which the bloc has been able to ma
nipulate under Senator McCumber.
Senator Goodlng put into the tariff
bill a rate OF 33 cents a pound for wool
This Is far higher than ever has been
fxed in an American tariff bill except
the emergency bill, when the rates were
hit or miss. In the emergency bill a
k,ate was fixed at as cents a pound In
The Payne Aldrich bill, so thoroughly
condemned because of schedule X, COW