Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-15
TIDE OF REVOLT Is RISING
AGAINST STUPID LEGISLATION
Tariff Schedules That Might Suit the
Nineteenth Century Are Out OF
Place In the Twentieth

THE revolt of fourteen Republican Sena-
tors against the cation schedule in the
Tariff Bill is an encouraging sign OF a
growing enlightenment in Washington.
But the revolt will have to be carried
much further before the proper kind of a
tariff bill can be passed.
The measure which is now under con-
sidcration was drafted in accordance with
the protective theory in favor twenty years
ago. 1t Is an old. fashioned. high tarif bill
conceived in the theory that it is the duty
of Congress to erect wall around the coun-
try to keep out the products of other ma
tons.
So far as has appeared. there is nothing
in 1t intended to develop a new industry, as
there was in the tariff bills passed In the
last century. Numerous industries have
been created ont of nothing by an intelligent
application of the protective policy. Their
success has justified the Republican theories.
The new industries have become so sue
cessful that their products have been sold
at lower price than that which prevailed
before the tariff was levied
The industrial conditions in the United
States and the economic condition of the
rest of the world are SO different from those
which prevailed before 1914 that tariff
bill drafted without taking these changes
into consideration is fatally defective.
This newspaper has persstently urged
recognition of the changed conditions. 1t
has called attention frequently to the fact
that the United States, which once was a
debtor nation. has become in few years a
creditor nation. The nations Of Europe
owe our National Government nearly SlO.-
600 600. 900. borrowed during the war: and
the business men Of Europe owe American
business men several more millions s-just
how many is not definitely known.
IL Is the business of Congress to adjust
our trade laws 70 this new condition and
to make it possible for those who owe us
money 10 pay it. Arrangements to facilitate
the collection Of debts nrc as necessary 10
American prosperity as arrangements to
protect the home market for the benefit Of
the home producer.
The debts cannot be paid In gold because
Europe has not the gold They will have
10 b" paid in goods. and the goods will in
evitaby disnlace to some extent the products
of the domestic factories. 1t is possible for
fair minded men TO make an equitable com.
promise between these two conflicting inter-
ests that is. the interests of the Americans
to whom Europe owes money and the in
tercsts OF the men engaged in domestic pro-
duction. 1t cannot be brought about by men
who seek to play politics with the taxation
laws.
Economic and trade experts with no axes
TO grind ar" needed And there is need also
Of disposition in Congress to take the
advice Of these experts.
Instead Of asking and accepting the ad-
vice of experts We are treated 10 the spec
tacle of the Senate engaged in log rolling a
tariff measure through. with the Senators
seeking special favors for the industries of
their States making dickers with other SEN
ators seeking similar favors. The result Is
bill of denominations which. if passed
without radical changes, is likely 10 be an
old Man Of the Sea upon the back Of the
Republican Party in the approaching cleo
tions.
The cotton schedule against which the
fourteen Republicans rebcllcd provided for
increases in the already high duties fixed in
the House bill
For some unexplained reason the Senate
committee had raised tho duty on high grade
cotton yarns to 30 per cent ad vulorem.
whereas thc House duty was ONLY - per
cent. And 1t raised the duty on low grade
yarns 70 twelve cents a pound. whereas the
House duty was ten cents.
II was said on the floor of the Senate
thar those engaged in the industry had not
asked for these increases. 1t was said also
that the amount imported was small and no
one was able or willing TO say why the
changes had been made,
Tn" surprising thing is not that fourteen
Republican Senators joined with the Demo
Gratis in killing these duties. but that the
who" Republican ma aiority did not reject
them without rollcall.
This revolt against un!ntclllgrnt thrift
legislation seems to Justify those Senator.
who voted against forcing the bin through
under the cIoture rule. even though some OF
those who revoltcd voted in favor of III,
application Of the rule.
Some Of the revoltcrs lave been snvinl
for weeks that unless the bill is RADICAL,
changed they will oppose it on it's fna
| passage The opposition within the part,
Is becoming so Formidable that the rcsponsi,
! BILE leaders will have TO take rognlzunce o
II If th"y wish to present unired from
before the country in November.
A MYSTERY or INV