Norwich bulletin., 1922-04-12


 Washington, April 11.-CBy he 4. P.)- The long awaited administration tariff bill was presented today in the senate Sena- tor MoCumber. republican, North Dakota, in charge Of the measure announced that 10 give senators time to study 1t he would not call it up before April 20. Some re- publcan leaders thought 1t would be pass cd after about sixty days Of debate but other estimates ranged as high as three monthA
 Experts who assisted the senate finance committee majority to prepare the bill es- innate that the average of it's rates is slightly higher than the average of the Fayue-Abdrich law. the last republican tarif act The Payne-Aldrich level was approximately Al per cent on all dutiable imports and 21 per cent on all imports free and dutsable. The average of the demoGatio Underwood tariff which the now bin would replace was 37.60 and 14.sS per can't respectively, in 1914 the first year Of Is operation and the only year when trade was not seriously affected by me world war or after the war conditions.
 Average of All Rates Lower
 Comparing this bin with the Fordnsy measure, which the house passed last
 
 erparts estimate that the average of all rates is lower, though the specific rates and more particularly those on fOodstuffs ore 9uTnGwhat higher Exsot comnarisons of the ad valoreln duties in the two bills arc Eumewhaf difficult due 10 the fact that the senate committee threw overheard the house American valuation plan, re- turning to the foreign valuation principle
 Whne they have not completed all oal- HHHH Eanats meaEure prohabiy would raise be- tween S23os05o.0oo and 355o,e0o, 900 in revenre as compared with the estimate of $500 900 900 for tho Fordney bill and the 43Q6. QQo.coo of revenue returned In the calendar year 1921 from the joint opera ton of the Underwod and the emergency tarin act
 Foreign Valuation Principle
 Tn returning Go the foreign valuation principls. the senate committee ma jority carried out suFEestions of President Harding 10 congress last December for heXbae taTff. Under special provisions in Inc measure, the president, in the lang gage of the majority report which ac- louuarlissl tho Dill would be authorized.
 TO rnodfy tarih rates either upward or downward within prescribed limits (5l ger cent) and fn Accordance with definite rules laid down by congress go that rates may a. all tines conform to existing con ditionH
 TO change tho basis for the assessment of ad vaiorem duties on selected items from the foreign value to the value of the danestic article in the American market when the foreign value is not a certain hasls for the assessment of duties on such iternA
 TO tmrose penalty duties or prohibit The Importation Of particular goods for the purpose Of preventing unfair methods of competition in the Importation of goods
 TO Impose additional duties on the whole or any part Of the Imports into the United States from any country which dlscriminates against our overseas cdrn- merce Thesa additional duties are limit cd to the amount of the discrimination but if the discrimination is maintained the importation of merchandise may be pro- hibfed"
 Asserting that these elastic tariff pro- ristions were regarded by the commit lee as "undouhtedly constitutional" the report declared that they would "contri- hute to tarid stability by preventing the accumulation Of cases which ultimately force the upheaval of a general tariff re- vision" r. was added that investigations of possible tsriT changes, would be carried out under judicial procedure and that lhe parties interested would be given an op- rortunity to be heard
 Protection to American Industries
 Outlining the purpose Of the bill the re- por- said tho committee had endeavored 70 recommend rates That would afford protection to American industries and per nit them 70 pay wages sufficient to en- able the vvorkmcn 10 maintain an Ameri- can standard of living and also rates suf- fcient 60 ''uaintain essential industries created as a result of the war and consid- arcd vftal 10 the futufe industrial inde- reudence of the American people"
 Tn attempting 10 fix rates of duty in tFf7 bili' the re-ort continued your com v1ittee was faced with a condition never tpfura ev-er,enced ju -llriff legislation. Tn certain foreign countries high costs of r-1Iuc-ion existed to such an extent that a drtv which would afford protection Up- on Imports from such countries would be entirely insufficient 10 aOrd protection from countries having low production rog.s On the other hand the l-.-o=lti0- of rate sufficient low production costs would be an absolute r--1ar-o on the -5roiucta Of countries hay Ing production costs nearer our own
 HTie ra+ee irnnossd by this bill are sui f.Iort to protect the American market and preserve domestic competition and at .hc same tine will permit fair competition fior other countries"
 Need Of TariT Revision
 Taking up what was described as the .recI of tariff rcviEion" the committee majority said in the limited time before .a, .-rr thnt the "low rates of the Un- ---wooI law were in eifec. those rates had caused a rcterenchnient in produc- sieu os American products and had de- -raascd the purchasing power Of the American wc-zrcn because Of reduction ln vraresF It acded that the outbreak -r the war was the salvation of the Amer crr industries"
 Discussing present day conditions the --ro-t said "tha quotations made by for si-n uro6ucers for export sale of late have sc-n ro sxtr-nely low that they threaten tro destruction of American industries and sr.re c1rserucItly dsmoralized American t-aTa~ Tt added that ~this condition ex- rfe at tho present time and it is believed ru c1ntinut to exist until rates are es- rliished thst will afford fair protection io American industries"
 Before its presentation in the senate fhe hill was formally approved at the first r.oefir- Of the entire committee since the york of drafting the measure was started three months ngo. Democratic members ff thc committee present voted against il md were given ten days in which to pre-