Arizona republican., 1922-04-21
M'CUMBER SAYS TARIFF.
WILL NOT AID BUSINESS
I'M PRICES ARE GUT
Chairman OF Senate Finance Committee
Launches Tariff Bill With Warning To
Manufacturers That Consumers Must Be
Considned Before Prosperity Returns
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

COJ7SId ned BefOrt
LRepublcan A. p. Leased Wire1
WASHINGToN. April 20-Launch-
ing the administration tariff bill to-
day in the senate. Chairman McCum-
ber of the finance committee, warned
factory laborer and re-
taller alike that a protective tariff
alone would not bring a revival OF
business; that there must be a reduc-
tion of costs to within the reach of
the consumers pocketbook before
there could be a return to ''old time
Senator McCumber said the way
to reduce costs was for the manufac-
turer and the retailer to be satisfied
with most meagre' profits for a
while and for the factory employees
to increase their efficiency to the
highest possible degree.
In view of the present high cost of
living, he added, lit would be most
unjust" for manufacturer to begin
his economy by cutting wages.
This proposed legislation will open
the way to prosperity in the United
States. but it will not. unaided, bring
about this result" declared Senator
McCumber. .sThe American people
must do the rest and right here /
want to say a word to the American
and the American
laborer in our factories. This bill is
to, and l believe it Will. suf-
protect your market against
any excessive foreign invasion, but
just remember that over 80 per cent
Of all our products must be consumed
right here at home.
81 think 1 aln clearly within the
actual facts when say that two
thirds of the American people. the
bread winners in the United States,
are not receiving an income any
greater than their pre-war income.
The net earnings of the agricultural
class, are on the whole below the
pre-war income When we deduct
the rents, or in lieu of rents. the
added taxes and cost of upkeep of
the homes of another one third of our
population who are also bread win
ners-it will be found that their net
income also is below the pre-war in
come.
Increase Efficiency
& ssWhen | say that these people can
not spend any more than they earn,
l think l have sufficiently foreshad-
owed the necessity on the part Of the
manufacturers of bringing down the
production cost of their commodities
to within the purchasing reach of this
vast army of American farmers and
American wage earners-a reach that
can not extend one inch beyond the
limit of their earnings.
Eve have tried to help bridge this
gulf between the production cost of
manufactured articles and the con-
Sumers ability to buy them by doing
what we can to increase the purchas-
ing power of the latter, and it is now
up to the manufacturer to do his part
to bring his cost down to meet the
size of the consumers pocket book.
With the present high cost of living
it would be most unjust to start his
economy by forcing reduction in the
wages of his employees.
Let the manufacturers be salts
fled with a r1ostAmeager return upon
his investment for a while, then let
the employees increase their efficiency
to the highest possible degree Then
il the retailer will just follow the
the great American
public, now hungry for more and
better things, will give employment
to all to supply its demands and old
time prosperity will again reign
throughout the lands"
After Senator McCumber's address
there was a dispute between Repub-
Iicans and Democrats as to procedure,
with result that reading of the 40
page bill was ordered. This con-
sumed the remainder of the day and
it was announced that when the sem
ate convened tomorrow it would pro-
ceed to the consideration of the 1000
odd committee amendments.
Minority Wants Time
Objecting today to immediate con-
of committee amendments,
Senator Simmons OF North Carolina
declared the minority had not had
sufficient time to prepare them-
selves. He said the Democrats will
not "obstruct, but will do everything
possible to facilitate the speediest
possible final determination"
Senator Jones, Democrat of New
Mexico, asked whether the majority
proposed to take up the question of
adopting American or foreign valua-
tion. Senator McCunber said the
majority was committed to foreign
valuation and added that he did not
believe that the question would be
raised in the senate, although form
ing the subject of a difference with
the house later. Senator Simmons
declared the senate should go on rec
ord on the question or otherwise
there might develop a situation
where it would have to accept Amer
lean valuation after the bin was in
conference.
Il still strongly believe the house
will agree to foreign valuation" re-
piled Senator McCumber. IF it
should not and we get into a deadlock
it would be time enough TO discuss
the question then. To discuss it now
would be only a waste of time"
Senator Simmons replied that
American valuation would have to be
discussed, because the committee
proposed to give the president au
thority to proclaim that valuation on
given lists of articles when he deemed
it necessary.
In opening his prepared address
Senator McCumber told the senate
that protective tariff and reduc-
ton in production costs were neces-
sary ''to reconstruct the commercial
bridge across the chasm separating
the cost of production in the United
States and abroad