Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-14
Rift in Ranks
Senate G.. 0. P. Over
Tariff on Cotton

aShlnStOn, July l5-Ine iirSt real
split in Republican Senate ranks over
the administration tariff bill came to-
day during consideration OF the cot
ton schedule with a result that ten
ten committee amendments propos-
ing increased rates on various kinds
of yarns and on silver and rowing
were rejected one after another as
fast as they were reached. The ma
jority opposition was led by senator
Lenroot OF Wisconsin and reached its
maximum strength on the first roll
call. twelve Republicans opposing
the committee rate on a roll call by
which the amendment was rejected.
81 to "a
The twelve Republicans were Boz
rah, Clpper, Cummins. Jones Of
WASHINGTON; Lenroot. Mccormick,
Nelson, New, Norbcck, Sterling,
Townsend and Willis. The lowest
Republican vote against amy Of the
amendments was nine, with the aver
age running at ten. With "a single eX-
ception on each roll call, the Demo-
Gratis voted solidly against the pro-
posed increases.
With the basic duties on yarns re-
duced, it was predicted that cuts in
the rates on at least the lower grade
cotton cloth of even greater proper
ton than recommended yesterday by
the finance committee majority
would be made as the Senate pro-
ceeded with the schedule. That prob
ably will be some time next week, as
the schedule is to be laid aside to-
morrow i'll favor of the aye embargo
provision of the bill, which under an
nounced plans, will he held before the
Senate until settled.
A vigorous fight over it is forecast.
with Senator Moses of New Hamp
shire, leading the Republican oppo-
ncnts and Senator King of Utah,
making the principal argument for
the Democrats in opposition.
Several members of the Eepubli-
con agricultural tariff bloc joined to-
day i'll the opposition to the commit
tee increase in the cotton rate, but
a majority Of the bloc, which was in
strumertal in obtaining duties Tor
farm products approved by the Sem
ate during the past two weeks, voted
to sustain the committee.
Opening the fight against the COM
mittee rates Senator Lenroot argued
against increases in rates of yarns
and on cloth. He declared that on
the cheaper grades the United States
was shipping to all the world. He
contended also that the compensatory
duties on fine yarns made from long
staple cotton were too high consid-
ering that the duty on the long sta
pie cotton itself was only cents a
pound.
Senator Smoot o: Utah in behalf of
the committee majority, supported
the increases declaring them to be
necessary to protect the industry.
particularly that in the east which.
he explained was producer now
high grade cotton cloth almost eX-
clusively, the oh, pper grades being
turned out in southern mills. He
called attention that Ugh grade cloth
came in from Ems nd in large guam
titles.
Attacks on the rates were made
from the democratic side by Sena :
tors Simmons of North Carolina,
leader in the tariff fight: Underwood
Of Alabama. the minority floor lead
or. and Smith of South Carolina.
Senator Simmons character: d the
rates as utterly indefcnsihlc" and
said it was his understanding that
the manufacturers had not asked for
tEem. Senator romcrcne, Democrat.
ohio. remarked that the yarns man
rracturers had been prosperous nn-
der the existing tariff rates and Sem
ator Simmons r. nded that they
sd been "heyoni the creams OF
avarice in mary instances"
Senator l-ndcrwr'~' c''3r-T that
TIE finance committee majority was
% moufaging the v:ln," nation 10
take care. of one industry-the maxi
ing of lace yarns" lie argued that
the rates on these yarns were In
creased so as TO justify big increases
ir tho duties on lace "aInr.
"The committee is blowing a smoke
cloud before tho Americ. - people
said Senator Underwood. land at
tempting 70 have 'rcm think icre Is
some reason for these increased
taxes. do not know VIII, . 'rc I'm
pulses comes from, but u is back in
the wood somewhere. Somebody in
tcrestnd in making 80 varus IN this
country is hahind this proposition"
cSn g..