South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-12
TARIFF FIGHT
is POSTPONED
UNTIL APRIL 20
Measure, Reported to Senate,
Will Not Be Debated for
Several Days.
FREE LIST CUT DOWN
Rates Considerably Higher
Than Underwood Bill
Now In Effect.

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON April H. The
long awaited administration tariff
bin was presented I'm the senate
Tuesday. Sen McCumber, repubh-
San. North Dakota, i'm speaking Of
the measure announced that TO give
senators time 10 study it he would
not call b. up before April 90. Some
republican leaders thought it would
De- passed after about so days Of
debate but other estimates ranged
as high as three months
Experts who assisted the senate
finance committee majority 20 pre-
pare5he bill. estimate that the aver
age of its rates is slightly higher
than the average Of the Payne-Ald-
rich law. The Payne-Aldrich level
was approximately Al per cent. on
all dutable imports. and p per cent
on all imports free and dutiable.
The average of the democratic I'm
derwood tariff which the new bill
would replace. was % so and 14.sS
per cent, respectively, in 1914, the
first year Of its operation and the
only year when trade was not seri-
ousIy affected by the world war
Average Rate Lower.
Comparing this bill with the
Fordney measure. which the house
passed July 21. and OF which this Is
q re-write. the experts estimate that
the average of all rates is lower.
though the specific rates and more
particularly those on foodstuffs, are
somewhat higher. Exact COMPARE
sons Of the ad valorem duties in the
two bills are somewhat different, be-
cause the senate committee threw
overheard the house American valua-
tion plan returning 10 the foreign
valuation principle.
While they have not completed all
calculations treasury experts say
that the senate measure probably
would raise between $3.50 900 900
and $3.50 600 900 ia revenue as com
pared with the estimate Of $500 .OOO,-
600 for the Fordney bill and the
s20s 900 600 of revenue returned in
1921 from the Joint operation Of the
Underwood law and the emergency
tarin act.
New Bill Flexible
In returning to the foreign valua-
tion principle. the senate committee
majority committee carried out sug-
gestions of Pres't Harding for tiex-
ible tariff Under special provisions,
the president. fin the language of the
majority report which accompanied
the bin. would be authorized.
To modify tariff rates either up
ward or downward within prescrib-
ed limits $50 per cent? and ir ac-
cordance with rules laid down by
congress SO that rates may conform
90 existing conditions
To change the basis for the assess
ment OF I'd valOrem duties on select
cd items from the foreign value to
the value of the domestic article in
the American market when the for
eien value is not a certain basis for
the assessment OF duties on such
stems.
May Impose Penalties.
To impose penalty duties or pro-
hibit importation of particular goods
for the purpose Of preventing unfair
methods of competition in the i'm
portatiou Of goods
To impose additional duties on the
whole or any part of the imports
into the United states from any
country which discriminates against
our overseas commerce. These ad-
ditioual duties are limited 20 the
amount of the discrimination. but II
the discrimination is maintained the
importation Of merchandise may be
prohibited
The committee said that Il had
tried TO recommend rates that would
R5le them 20 pay sufficient wages to
the workman 90 maintain a standard
OF living and also rates sufficient 10
maintain essential industries created
as a result Of the war and consider
ed vital TO the future industrial in
dependence OF the American people"
Farm Bloc" Influences.
The house ways and means re-
pubICans are angry at the foreign
valuation scheme. They say IL viii
lead 10 under Mutations. hence less
Of revenue 90 this government and
too little protection 10 the American
industries.
Rates on many things have
been in r ca sed above those
provided 10y the Fordney house bill.
The farm bloc" has admittedly
been given special consideration and
g IS in general. quite happy with
the rates applied for sharp increases
were made IN rates on farm pro-
ducts. Cattle were increased from
one-ouarter TO one-haIf cents a
pound. sheep and goats. from
cent a pound 10 s. a head. regard
lees oE weight fresh lamb from .
~ cents pound and mutton and
scat meat from one-quarter 10 one
La.f cents pound. The latter pro-
Hsiors are aimed ar imports Of
Australian and New Zealand meat
lard. 10 being recalled that such inl-
ports were once tried in an effort
20 force down home prices
Bacons. ham. shoulders and other
prepared pork were increased from
one-cuarter cent 10 cents a pound:
lard compounds and substitutes from
% percent al valorem 70 cents
a pound. Opponents Of the bin say
the new rates viii keep meat prices
from dropping. perhaps cause them
in some cases 20 rise.