Arizona republican., 1922-05-18
Senate Has Difficulty
mastering Quorum For
Night Tariff Session

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE sem
ate had difficulty in mastering a
quorum for its tariff session tonight
but after it had gotten back to work
Senator Underwood of Alabama, the
Democratic leader, said he had been
informed that during his absence at
dinner the sergeant at -arms had re-
ported to the senate that the Demo-
Gratis who were in town and absent
We're well. and that all Of the Repub-
licans who were in town and absent
were sick, with the exception of
three.
What ! want to know" he said,
"is whether the performance on the
pending bin is the cause of so much
sickness in the Republican family"
1T might have been the result Of
OF the primary election in Pennsyl-
yania," remarked Senator Caraway,
Democrat, Arkansas.
THAT is true," said Senator Tn
derwood.
THAT would not make anybody
sick. will say to the senator from
Alabama" declared Senator Smoot,
pected."
Provisions in the pending tariff
bill under which the President would
be given broad powers over tariff >du-
ties were attacked and defended to-
day in the senate. Senator Watson.
Democrat, Georgia. opened the as
sault and was joined by Senator Tn
derwood of Alabama, the Democratic
leader, and others on the minority
side Chairman McCumber and SEN
ator Smoot of the finance committee
defended the provisions
Declaring that the proposal would
bring together in the White House
the three branches of the government,
the legislative, executive and judicial,
Senator Watson said they would
work reyaluation in our system of
government" He asserted also that
the power of life and death of bust
ness not only in this country but
abroad was too great to impose on
any one man." and asserted that the
British parliament or house of COM
mons would not dare to make such q
proposal.
Senator Underwood described the
provisions as the machinery to over
throw all the rates we are discuss
ing"
"As long a this machinery remains
in the bill" he said. land / hope it
will go out) it is hardly necessary
for us TO consider rates because no
matter what we do it may all be
wiped out overnight by executive
order"
Senator Sn1oot reiterated that the
President would use the authority
granted only in a limited number of
cases in which it was known that
duties could not be provided that
would take care of the situation.
Senator McCumber finally brought
the discussion to close by calling
attention that the senate had been in
session for six hours without taking
a single vote and asking that it pro-
ceed to a vote. This was done al |
most Immediately, the committee |
rate Of 20 per cent ad valorem on |
bone black being approved. The COM |
mittee generally had approved the |
rate of one cent a pound, but with |
1rew this. An amendment by Sena-
.or Walsh, Democrat, Massachusetts, |
% make the rate 10 per cent, was re-
ected % to 46.
There was a long dispute between
Senator Walsh and Senator McCum- I
Der as to present prices of the COM
nOulLy III tHlS country ana aDTOdus
Senator Norris. Republican Nebras-
IA, joined in this discussion to re-
mark that the fact that prices were
changing so rapidly was zone reason
Why it will be impossible to pass a
ill framed/ ON a scientific basis"
Earlier in the day the committee
withdrew an amendment TO make the
uty on bargtes ore So a ton after
republicans had joined with the
Democrats III The fight