The New York herald., 1922-06-15

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HEzAtp
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. June IL.
In an attempt to meet the attacks on
the tariff bill Chairman McCumber OF
the Finance Committee to-day charged
that the newspapers Of New York, Bos.
ton. Chicago, Detroit and other large
cities are criticizing the tariff bill solely
because they are under the domination
Of the importers.
He got very angry when Senator Un-
derwood (Ala.) pointed out flaws in his
argument and defended the newspapers
Their very lifo blood depends upon
the advertisements inserted by the large
department stores" asserted Senator
Mccumber. "One store In Detroit
spends $500, 900 per annum ror advertis-
ing with the newspapers. while some
stores in New York pay much larger
sums. Statistics show that last year the
department stores paid for advertise
ments in the newspapers more than
$500, 900, 900. While many newspapers
condemn the tariff bill. none of them
offers any constructive criticism"
One result Of the effort OF Senator
McCumber was a resolution offered by
Senator Walsh (Mont) calling on the
Attorney-General for Information on
learn whether the interests and persons
mentioned by Mr.. McCumber really
were in a conspiracy, as he had charged.
Prosecution was demanded If the COM
bination was found.
McCumber stages a Show.
Chairman McCumber also staged a
remarkable vaudeville show in an effort
to prove that the importers are gourging
the American public, which accounts, no
declared, for their opposition to the
tariff He repeated often that they were
supported in their fight by the metro
politan press because or the huge sums
paid by the department stores for adver-
tisements, the newspapers thus sharing
in the spoils.
In front of him on several desks
Chairman McCumber had many articles
recently imported. He showed the in
voice price of each article and the SELL
ing price In this country. He declared
the figures proved that proflts ranged
from 100 per cent. to $4,000 per cent.
yet" he said. ''the importers were
unwilling to pay on each article bought
abroad a small sum to help carry the
heavy financial burden Of the country
Then, he declared, one dealer in New
York sold beaded bags which cost rs
marks In Berlin--about 10 cents--for
SIS each, thus making a profit of more
than $4,000 per cent.
Here are some of the other articles
used by Chairman McCumber in his
show:
Electric bulbs costing 5.3 cents each,
selling price 80 cents. profit ABB per
cent. pearl necklace costing $12.25 in
France, selling for $3.50, giving profit
of 1,064 per cent, after duty imposed;
razor costing II cents. retail price IS
each, profit 2,064 per cent: curling iron
costing 9.6 cents, retailing price S1.39,
proft 1908 per cent; vacuum bottle
costing 10 cents. retail price rs cents.
profit 406 per cent; all wool blanket
made in Czecho-Slovakia, cost $3.50.
selling price s45.60. profit after duty.
1S9 per cent. fancy prfar pipe made In
England. cost s4.32, selling, price $25.
profit 4l9 per cent. jack knife. cost 57.7
cents, selling price $40. profit 1127
per cent.
Senator Und erwood denounced the
arguments advanced by Chairman Nc
Cumber as unsound and his position
on the tariff as untenable.
"You appeal to the American work
man, saying this Is his fight" said
Senator Underwood. yet you point