Evening star., 1922-09-29
Much Depends on Flexibility
Feature,

With the Fordney- -McCumber tarih
law in effect editors are watching
with great interest the operation OF
the fexibility feature inserted In the
bill at the request of President Hard
ink. Criticism Of the law as finally
completed generally is unfavorablc'
but there Is a disposition on the part
of republican editors to argue that,
IL the President acts wisely in e1er-
cisin9 his newly conferred powers TO
revise rates. the law yet may prove
a beneficial one.
Hope for the public after all rests
with the President, the New 1ork
Tribune (republican) argues ana ms
new Job Is not an enviable one. Yet
II he makes his labors as tariff re-
wiser a memorable contribution to-
ward progress and economic stabiiity
none will be more delighted than
those who have been able to find Ut
tie comfort in the Fordney-M -McCum-
Der bill" The Savannah Press (dem-
ocratic). with a wealth of sarcasm,
assails the free list" of the measure.
citing the various articles included
to show that they are OF little benent
to the ultimate consumer. and adding
that I'VE do not see how the Fordney-
McCumber crowd is to be kept out of
the list of public benefactors and
public philanthropists from the
thought that has been given to the
things that are to stay on the free
list"
The bill will curb exports. the Newark
News independently argues. because
As q nation we produce beyond our
actual needs and the disposal abroad
Of some 10 per cent of production,
therefore, makes much Of the differ
ence between prosperity and depres-
sion. 50 we must make up. our mind
area Of higher prices at home, but
in a falling OF in exports. including
raw materials. The agriculturalist
will be bound to feel the pinch every
whit as much as the manufactures
waukee Journal independently, the
measure was written. not by Con-
gress in the interest of the country.
but by the interests seeking profit
for themselves" Even IL it should
the delay in perfecting it and the
time wasted on 1t Will make 1t AN
Cleveland News (republican) argues,
and it holds that "the new tariff
threatens to be the best argument
by some other agency than Congress
through congressional consent" The
law Is admittedly for the purpose Of
peEging prices against recession.
says the philadelphia Evening Bul.
"If the elastic provision Of the meas
ure shall prove actually operative in
Justice attempted under these rates
may be checked The IF is the big
factor which may determine the ulti-
mate verdict of the people on the
hi 70
tho opinion entertained by the
Cleveland Plain Dealer Independent
democratic). holding that eff the plan
to meet the changing demands of
trade and commerce functions to ad-
vantage it is conceivable that no at
revise the entire tariff law for many
years to come. The effect of the
act, however, Is entirely a specula-
tion: How to protect the home
market MAJ tsns s s0raisa ta soDs' eomDetitiSa te
Importer to pay duties wherewith
to support tho government. Is a
problem th4t the present protec-
ZIONIST Congress, like those that pre-
oeded 1t, has been unable to solve"
law very long. In the view, of the Chi
cago Daily News Independently, which
points out that Ave republican sena-
tors, four of them highly influential
and widely respected for ability and
character. voted against the tariff bill
in the final division. This is signifi-
cant. II few more Independent or
insurgent republicans take seats In
the Senate q year hence, the demo-
Gratis will expect and receive consider
able republican support In an effort
to revise the Fordney-Mccumber tar
The biii. however, has ian assured
life Of two years." tho Detroit Free
Press independently believes, and If
the flexible plan works out; as, hoped
''the prospect that executive discre-
ton will continue TO play a large part
In all future tariff 6-mAking will be
bright" But should It fail in ex-
pActations, then. the Indianapolis
News Independently says. the blame
''Will rest, not with Congress. but
with the President. It is hard to real
ize that men could, in the present
state Of the world, pass such a bill.
The bill might well be entitled a bill
for the-pfomotion Of scarcity" The
Providence Journal (independent)
suggests that $50 far as the law is
concerned only partisan spellbinder
would venture to predict just what is
going % happen" "Experience only
VII shox III wtfth." tie. Slfintheld
II u n Oo6a0diidkt1y Wf666 Atid, ii.
jurious, its operation win soon show
- HhAee II hoNoVeh th1S .010ment