The Washington times., 1922-08-20
SEN.CONDEMNS
TARIFF MEASURE
AS 'ABOM|NAb[E'
Walsh Of Mass. Says Bill Sur
renders Billions to Priv
ileged Groups.
BY Universal Service.

Antertcdn Congress-.
Framers of the bill, according
to Senator Walsh, subvSrted the
interests Of many and "brazenly
BESTOWED" special privileges upon
the favored fe,0. Continuance of
the methods employed tn framing
the bill, the Senate predicts, sOill
result in the passing Of both
parties, Which 10iti be succeeded in
Congress BY representatives OF
pdrious groups.
By SENATOR DAVID I. WALSH.
The Fordney. .McCumber tariff
bill, which the Senate passed to-
day, Is one of the most abominabl:
legislative acts of an American
Congress. The old. principles Of
tariff for revenue AMI tarif. for
protection to infant industries have
been abandoned. In part, also,
political party lines have been dis
, regarded.
The whole measure, it's prepara-
don and it's passage. step by step,
smacks of selfishness and sordid-
ness. The rates are excessive, and
the indiscriminate manner in which
subsidies and bounties have been
distributed to organized groups and
classes at the expense of the many
rs scandalous. The old abuses in
appropriation bills which taxed the
American people in order to get
votes for Congressman by erecting
public buildings or by deepening
and widening creeks and rivulets in
their districts are made to appear
insignificant in comparison with the
~ N@tl
Congress has maintained for months
bargain counter, where :arlff
duties were sold to organized
ciiques Or combines. who's Joint
political strength could command .
majority Of votes.
Bill RObs the Public.
1t is we'll recognized tha, tariff
laws do not create wealth. but
distribute 1t. This bill takes billions
OF dollars from the pockets of the
public an1 distributes this vast sum
to those who enjoy sufficient influ-
ence to receive an invitation to
thrust their hands into the plundsr
pile.
II the new method which has
succeeded at this time continues. 1t
will not be long before the old party
labels in our bodies dis
appear and blics-agricultural, man.
ufacturing, labor, banking. and SO.
cial-are substituted.
The toll the American people
must pay under the operation OF this
bill is stupendous. 1t will reach
into the billions. Foodstuffs, CLOTH
ing, practically all the essentials
and necessaries of life, bear the
highest known duties. and all of this
while the people are demanding re.
ductions in the cost of production,
cost Of living, and capital is debating
wages.
Increases Cost OF Living.
In the midst Of the great business
depression throughout the world,
from which our own country has
not been spared, the peoples Con-
gress proceeds to increase their
burdens and costs of living.
| Experts of the Government esti,
mate that II the increased tariff
| cereals, potatoes and beans are
duties alone will amount to an in
crease of 1890, ,000, 900 in the cost
OF living. Indeed, II is notorious
that the working and poorer classes
are especially to suffer In conse-
quence Of this legislation.
| It is useless to enumerate the
millions reaching into the billions
which those increased duties will
extort. Every industry with polit-
ical influence, whether of the war
baby" of mushroom type, or Of
trust t-busting proportions, has been
made a beneficiary in participating
in the graft. Their friends in
Congress, however, have over
reached themselves, such high
duties have been levied upon the
raw and basic materials necessary
to the manufacture of most of our
finished products that the big in.
dustries of the country must face
staggering increases in the cost Of
production.
Will Create Disrespect.
What will be the outcome of
such methods Of extorting from the
people by taxation, no man can
predict. In my opinion, 1t destroys
respect OF, II indeed II does not
really threaten the security of our
institutions. The bold and brazen
manner in which special privileges
have been bestowed upon favored
groups is certain to provoke rather
than allay the growing unrest
which America, as well as the rest
Of the world, is combating.
In view of the indefensibie, scan
dalous, selfish, pork.barrel character
of this legislation, how much longer
can our law-making body retain the
confidence and respect of the Ameri.
can public. 1t Is time for a political
revolution against such methods and
practices. This bill has made the
tariff more than a political issue. 1t
has become a great moral issue. II
is immoral to. extort, whether done
under the gufse Of law or in viola
ton of the law.
Thou shalt not covet. thy neigh
boris goods" is a frogotten com.
mandment. II the public cannot
compel existing political organiza-
tions to live up to their well-known
principles and platforms, the people
at least have the power to drive out
Of control a political party that
sponsors and must assume the re.
sponsibility Of this iniquitous lcgis.
| lation.
| The lInor ga nized ultimate consun,.