The New York herald., 1922-04-07
APPEAL TO HARDING
ON FORDNEY CLAUSE
Dry Goods Dealers Say y. 5.
Valuation on Imports Will
Jump Cost Of Living.

The National Retail Dry Goods Asso-
citation has sent telegram 70 President
Harding and to Senator Porter ]. Nc
cumber, chairman OF the Senate
Finance Committee. protesting against
the American valuation OF the Fordney
tariff bill and calling heir attention to
the fact that the bill was passed by the
House Of Representatives without debate
on this section.
American valuation. the telegram says,
Is regarded as deceitful, cumbersome
and difficult OF administration. and as
conceived Is in the interests OF those
who desire to foster monopolistic con-
troll OF prices.
says the message, "that the effect OF
American valuation must be to increase
materially the cost of living
The telegram, which was signed by
Jesse Isidor Straus. president OF the
association, and Philip LIE Boutillier.
chairman Of the tariff committee, is as
follows:
MAY we call to your attention the
possibility OF most unusual and un-
desirable situation In connection with
the prospective passage OF the Foroney
tariff bill. You will recall that the House
enacted the Fordney bill without debate
on the floor touching the provision In
Section 402. commonly referred to as
American valuation. The bill. now IN
the hands of the Senate Finance Com
mittee, has met with general objection
fom farmers, merchants. manufacturers.
bankers and the great consuming public.
Not through any disposition to deny ade-
quate protection wherever needed to
American labor and industries, but be-
cause American valuation, so-called. Is
regarded as decetful. cumbersome and
difficult Of administration and as con-
ceived In the interests of those who de-
sire to foster monopolistic controi or
prices.
"If the Senate Finance Committee now
should report the Fordney bill. changing
the basis Of assessment back to the
foreign valuation, and the Senate should
adopt the measure as reported. there Is
a possibility that when the bill goes to
conference the American valuation plan
N some form may be restored. and upon
acceptance of the conference report by
the Senate and the House we may race
the amazing spectacle of having this. the
most notable departure from the estab-
Iished custom procedure Of the country.
actually become law without ever having
teen discussed on the floor OF either
house Of Congress.
"The opposition to American valua-
ton is so widespread and spontaneous
that we are moved to ask you In the
interests of the whole people to exert
your influence to prevent the possibility
cf so amazing an occurrence as we have
outlined. 1t is our Judgment as dis
tributors that the effect OF American
valuation must be to increase materially
the cost Of living.
"Just now the prices Of farm products
are recovering somewhat and the dis
parity between the price OF farm prod
ucts and manufactured goods Is to that
degree decreased. It would be a sad
mistake now II Congress by the enact
rlent OF American valuation should send
the prices OF manufactured products
once more far out OF keeping with farm
products.
I'm view Of the fact that the country
has spoken so emphatically against
American valuation may we point out
that 1t would be a serious mistake to
enact section 402 without debate on the
floor OF the Senate"