The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1922-06-23
A BILL TO INCREASE THE
COST OF LIVING.

Enactment of the Fordney McCun-
Der tariff bill may not be blocked,
but until it is passed and signed, it
will be the duty Of a militant minor
ity in the Senate and the House to ex-
pose the provisions of this iniquitous
measure 50 that the men and women
who have to pay the bills will know
what Is in store for them and under
stand who Is responsible for the pas
sage Of q bill which rightfully should
be entitled can act to increase the
cost Of living in the United States"
Abandoning any pretense OF protec-
ton, the Republicans have been fore
ed into the open as willing servants
of the trusts and great mon0polies
which control the food products and
manufactures of the nation.
Protection has been lavishly grant
ed; protection until it hurts; protec-
tion to the utmost; protection far be-
yond the limit of endurance.
1t marks radical departure in Re-
publican tariff policies. 1t grants,
probationary, forces protection
upon industries which have pleaded
against it. 4
The bill carries the title ITO provide
revenue, to regulate commerce with
foreign nations, to encourage the in-l
dustries Of the United States, and for
other purposes"
The last object and enactment COW
ers world of territory.
The bill as passed by the House al
most a year ago, covered some 800
printed pages. As reported from the
Senate Finance Committee last April
ments made by the committee itself.
Less than fourth of these amend
ments have been disposed of in the
Senate debate that now is in progress.
The measure was drawn by Repub-
licans and reported by Republicans.
The minority was not permitted to
see it nor to learn of its provisions
until its formal presentation to the
Senate and House. The fight against
the bill is being made under this great
handicap and yet it is so effective
that concession after concession has
been forced from an unwilling major
ity and, in instances, the committee
has withdrawn amendments bodily.
The bill abandons the old Republi-
can policy Of free raw materials. The
old-time G. o. P. slogan of ''the free
breakfast table" is tossed into dis
card.
Everything that the breakfast Ia
BILE, the lunch table and the dinner ia
BILE can hold is now to be taxed.
The milk, the cream, the sugar, the
bread, the rolls, the eggs, the butter,
the steak, the chops, the fruit, the
salt, or whatever it is that is placed
upon the table for the American con-
amer. mas tax placed upon IL BY the
Republican tariff makers.
Everything that goes into the
kitchen and the household now is to
be taxed.
Knives Of every description, cutlery
OF all grades, furniture Of every kind.
aluminium cooking utensils and cook
ing utensils of other ware. pottery
and crockery. glassware and china
ware, all are selected for taxation at
a rate hitherto unheard of.
Everything that goes on the back OF
the American consumer Is singled out
for tax.
The cotton undergarments and
shirts and shirtwaisst, the laces that
90 to ornament the clothing of babies
and women, the dress materials for all
seasons, the wooden dress goods, the
table cloths and napkins, the towels. 1
the silks for all sorts of wear, gloves.
cotton, kid and silk, and shoes Of ali
sorts are to cost more than ever.
Lumber for the house and the barn.
lire brick for the fireplaces, tile for
The bathroom, shingles for the roof.
composition roofings, rugs for the
floor, tapestry and cretonnes for fur
liture coverings, all look alike to the
9. o. P. raiders.
Plate glass for windows and show
:ases, the paints and varnishes that
brighten up the store and the offies S.
ash registers and bookkeeping ma
terials, electric fans and even the
ocks on the doors are subject to in
creased taxation.
IL there is anything used in IN
home, IN the hospital. in the charita
Die institution, in the office, in tn
.actory or in the country that the
,. T. tax schedules ignore. it
through neglect rather than intsnt.-S
rennessean.