The Washington herald., 1922-04-12
SENATE CHIEFS
FACEDIVISI0N
ON TARIFF BILL
Disagree on High Rates
Proposed in New
Measure.
EXCEEDS DUTIES
OF FORMER LAWS
American Valuation Plan
Favored by House
Is Discarded.

The highest duties in the history
of the country are provided in the
tariff bill just reported to the Sem
ate by the finance committee.
While an exact comparison with
the Payne-Aldrich law. the pre-
ceding republican measure. is diff
ncult. the present bill as a whole
carries a shedule of rates slightly
in excess of the former measure,
according to experts who helped
frame the bill.
This fact. and the disagreement
among republicans themselves as
TO the wisdom OF imposing highly
protective rates, indicates a long
and bitter struggle over the bill
Its passage cannot be expected for
two or three months. in the opinion
of well-infOrmed senators.
Changes Valuation Plan.
The finance committee reported
the bill yesterday. after virtually
rewriting the measure that passed
the House last summer. Many du-
ties were changed. and new
scheme for valuation was devised.
The American valuation system ap-
proved by the House was entirely
discarded.
The finance committee voted in
stead that duties should be assess
ed on the foreign values of the i'm
ported merchandise. This change
mi H,U
man Fordney and members of the
House Ways and Means committee
are insistent that the original pro-
posal be retained.
However. the President is given
power, after investigation. to
change the basis of duty from the
foreign to the American selling
price.
Bill Provides For elastic Tariff. -
According to the committee. the
Dill provides for an elastic tariff, "
or the sort requested by the Presi-
dent In addition to his power to
change duties to the American vaIu-
alton, the President is given the
right to alter rates to meet changed
conditions. to impose penalty du
ties. and to impose additional du-
ties to meet discriminatory tar
its imposed by foreign countries.
In the preparation of this meas
ure.' said the committees report.
Your committee has endeavored to
recommend rates that will afford
protection to American industries
ara permit them to pay wages suf-
tcient to enable ou- workmen to
maintain an American standard of
living Your committee also has
erdeavOred to recommend rates
sufficient to maintain essential in
dustries created as a result of the
war and considered vital to the
future industrial independence of
the American people. The
rates imposed by this bill are suf-
hciSrt to protect the American mar
ket'and preserve domestic competi-
tcn and at the same time permit
fair competition f-m other coun-
tries"
Senator LaFollette. of Wisconsin.
was the only Republican member
Of the Finance Committee to vote
against the bill. 1t will greatly in
crease the cost of living. in I.aFoI-
lette's opinion. and is unscientif-
ically prepared.
N"oNHust Opposc heasure.
Democrats, who did not helm
frame the bill. were called in for
the final vote. and. of course, voted
against the mea Sure. They a-e pre-
pairing a minority report. under the
leadership of Senator Simmons. of
North Carolina. ranking minority
member Of the committee Simmons
said Democrats have not been con.
suited about the bill. and must now
study II to find out what hasS been
done The rates. Simmons believes.
are higher than those in the Payne
Aldrich law, and would greatly in
crease the cost of living.
The argument of the tariff op-
ponents is principally that Europe
Will never be able to pay her sI6.-
OOO.OoO.OOO of Indebtedness IL the
tariff is imposed.
Debate on the bill will begin
April 81. The delay is to give the
Democrats an opportunity to pre-
pare their report
The schedule of rates on agricuI-
tural products in the Senate bill
are slightly higher than in the
House bill. and are nearly on a level
with those Of the emergency tariff.
which virtually constituted an en-
barge. The agricultural schedule
was Incorporated at the behest of
Republican Senators from farming
States Twenty five Of these have
formed a bloc" to see that the
schedule is approved.