Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-27

ton by about a score Of senators,
one of the largest attendahces on the
floor since the debate on the tariff
measure opened. He declared that
the rates in the bill calculated upon
basis OF the price OF products dur
ing the two periods were from 40 to
so per cent higher than those of the
Inflated Payne Aldrich" tariff and
were double those in the Underwood
law. Enactment of the measure, Me
asserted fould result in higher costs
of living, increased unemployment
and 1.-THE further monopolization Of
American industries"
1.-The North Carolina senator
charged that the rule followed 'by
the Finance Committee in determine
ing rates together with the super
added rate making powers conferred
upon the President, makes rate
fixing almost as much a matter of
political and personal patronage as
the distribution of federal Offices"
Again he said that the high rates
in the bill were insanity pure and
simple" and the outcome OF the de-
maDds of tariff beneficiaries thrown
into a panic by temporary condi-
| ton"
| After Senator Simmons concluded.
! Senator King. Democrat Utah, contin<
ued his analysis OF the chemical sched-
| ule, begun yesterday. He charged that
the provision in the bill making it I'M
| lawful to import dyes in containers or
packages bearing the trademarks of
| dyes registered in the United States
was "a joker added to the measure
| in the interest OF the "so-cal. 1 chem
ical foundation of which practically
all dye manufacturers in this country
are MEMBERS,
| The Utah senator asserted that the
chemical foundation claimed to own all
the patents and trademarks on dyes
I as a result of the sale to it of such
| patents and trademarks seized by the
alien property custodian during the
war. and declared that decent re-
gard for treaties and international law
| forbade such seizures"
| 1.-THE only thing to do" he added, "is
| to restore the seized property to the
German nationals. We are not pirates,
nor are we brigands."
| Before the days debate closed
| Chairman McCumbcr of the finance
committee defended American business
men from what he said had been the
attacks on them by Senators King and
Jones. Democrat. New MeXi,o. in an
| address yesterday. He declared the
| American business men were just as
honest as foreign manufacturers OF
| importers and in this connection told
the Senate that he had seen printed
warnings to Americans travelling
abroad to beware of the merchants OF
certain foreign countries because they
would rob the American tourists. He
added that no such warning had ever
| been given about American business
| men.
In opening his address Senator Sim
mons told the Senate that a study Of
the bill in connection with existing
conditions in this country AMI ,road
made it perfectly clear" that it was
framed with view to enable the in
dustries protected to advanc> further
present Excessively high prices"
Senator Simmons asserted that the
rule manifestly adopted and fol-
! lowed" by the finance committee in
| fixing rates violates every theory OF
| principle Of protection heretofore
! advocated or proclaimed by the
champions of protection, including
the Republican party in this coun-
| try, and with the super added rate
| making powers conferred upon the
| President, makes rate-fiXing as much
q matter of political and personal
| patronage as the distribution of Fed
eral Offices"
i Proposals in the bill under which
THE executive could change classifi-
cations or forms Of duty and in
crease or decrease rates were de-
clared by the North Carolina senator
| to clothe "the President with legis-
lative powers such as were never
! heretofore conferred upon any ad-
ministrative officer in this country
or any other. Anglo Saxon country
and which if conferred by tne parlia-
| ment of England upon the King and
| his ministers would, under their
summary method, result in an in
slant overthrow of the government
Senator Simmons said the bill was
based primarily on three erroneous
assum ptions of fact:
THAT present importations are
! excessive and u menace to the bust
ness of the country.
That the home selling price and
| the export selling price of foreign
merchandise is so much lower than
| the selling price of like or compar-
able domestic products that much
| higher rates of duty than those of
the present law are headed to bring
about fair and competitive condi-
| tons.
THAT the export price OF foreign
merchandise as found in the investi-
cations and report Of the Reynolds
commission based upbn such selling
prices in August 1921, has not
changed since that time and are the
same today"