Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1922-06-30
The Most Prohibiiiye Bill Ever
Proposed In Congress
OUTSKIRTS ALL OTHER LAWS
Under The Underwood Measure The
Country Enjoyed The Greatest
Prosperity It Ever
Knew.
By WALLACE BAssFoRD
Especial News corre,pondentl

Washington, D. c., June 19.-When
Oscar Underwood, OF Alabama, was in
the House OF Representatives he built
up great reputation as an expert ON
the tariff; he became Chairman of the
Committee on Ways and Means and
his name became fastened OIL the
tariff law which his committee COM
piled and put through the House. I'm.
der that measure the country enjoyed
the greatest prosperity 1t ever knew,
and 1t remained for the greed of
American manufacturers TO find fault
With the law. Mr.. Underwood is now
the Democratic leader i'll the Senate.
He has written for the New York
Times, the greatest Democratic news
paper OF this time, q long article on
the proposed tariff law now before the
Senate. Space forbids its use in full.
but here are some OF the most peril.
nent paragraphs:
nave always opposed In principle
the theory of protection, and have
leaned strongly to the idea that Gus.
toms taxation should be levied pri-
marily in the interest Of revenue for
the Government, and that all rates OF
taxation should be so adjusted as to
allow reasonable inflow of goods
from abroad in order that the Custom
House might have an opportunity to
take Its toll as they passed through
and some degree of competition might
be established. 1 have never contend.
ed that, in the Interest of O revenue
tarin III fE n HrI-
destructive competition, but a tariff
that fixes the rates OF taxation 30 high
as to practically prohibit foreign goods
from entering the American mar.
4et at all has been abhorent to my
ideas Of the proper use OF the taxing
power Of the Congress OF the United
States.
outstrips All Other Bills,
There are some few low rates in
the pending bill. There are some ar
ticles on the free list. But, taking it
all in all, 1t Is undoubtedly the most
prohibitive tariff bill that has ever
been proposed in the American Con.
gress, and the rates Of taxation are
higher and less defensible than any
that have ever been presented to us
In the past. 1t looks as II those
charged with the responsibility of
writing the bill have accented I'M.
qualiiiedly the rates proposed by the
special interests desiring protection
and have not given consideration to
the resultant effect on the general
business Of the country or the burdens
that must be borne by the consumers
OF America. Should the bill become a
law, the American people will find
this out in time, but it will be after
they have paid the price of the experi.
ment.
The Democratic Party Is often
charged with being n free trade party.
So far as know from the beginning
the Democratic Party has never aban.
noned the system of raising taxes at
the Custom House. There are free
traders in the Democratic Party and
l have known Of some In the Repub.
nlcan Party. AS understand 1t, the
position OF the Democratic Party Is
that taxes levied at the Custom House
should be for revenue purposes only,
that the Custom House is a place
where revenue may be obtained to run
the Government. and that it provides
convenient way OF raising a certain
amount Of revenue; that II a revenue
tax be levied at the Custom House In
such way that It does not unduly
stihe competition from abroad. and
the person who pays 1t really pays |,
to the Government, 1t is a reasonable
way to raise revenue. But when a
tax Is levied so high that very few
Imports come in-and II imports do
i not pass through the Custom House
they leave no taxes behind them-the
result Is merely that OF raising the
price. which goes into the pockets OF
the home producer.
The effect Of protective tariff laws
as distinguished from tariffs for rev.
| enue only, has boon to tax the great
| mass of the American people and to
increase the profits of few. 1 often
| hear Socialism and Communism con.
demned. 1 do not believe in either,
but 1t Is discrimination on the part
OF the Government against the masses
| OF the people for the benefit of the
Few that sows the seed from which
\ grow the tree OF discomfort, and dis.
content when brought about by un-
just laws reflects on the whole system
OF Government. I believe that the
great powers Of the Government are
Intended to be used only for the bene-
mt OF all the people, not for the promo.
| tion OF special interests, and 1 care
not whether those special interests
come out OF fields of agriculture or
arise from the smokestacks of a steel
mill.
Where The Farmer Comes Out.
"1n my opinion, II 1t were not for
tho support given this bill by Senators
who represent agricultural constitu-