The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-15
BATTLE IN
THE SENATE
OVER TARIFF
Exorbitant and Indefensible
Duty Placed on Irish Pota-
toes

aShlHStOn, July LILLE dSIl-
cultural-tariff bloc got another set
back today in the senate. losing
SO to "a, its fight to make dutiable
imported vegetable Oils used in the
manufacture of non-edible pro-
duets. The senate without a roll
call approved rates of three cents a
pound on cottonseed OIL and soya
bean oil and four cents a pound on
cocoanut oil and peanut oil. where
such oils enter into the manufac-
ture Of edible commodities.
The bloc did not vote as unit
on the proposition to remove the
provision allowing frees entry of
vegetable oils for industrial pur-
poses, but the detection within it's
ranks was more than made up by
support from the Democrats, eight
OF whom voted to eliminate the
provision. They We're Ashurst.
Rroussard, Harris, Hef1in, Jones Of
New Mexico, Kendrick, RansdeiI
and Sheppard.
Before the senate got down to
consideration of the tariff bill.
Senator Edge (Republican) cf
New Jersey served notice that un-
less the flexible tariff provision was
retained in the bill he would not
vote for it.. He declared he was
far from satisfied with the meas
ure in its present form and could
not support it if the schedule as
approved by congress were to re-
main in force until another tariff
revision was undertaken by con-
gress. Senator Edge stressed that
he wanted. authority given for a
downward as well as an upward
revision of rates, declaring that he
was interested in the development
Eof the country's export trade, be-
'Iieving that only by such develop
1nent could there be a full meas
ure of prosperity in the United
States. He also reiterated his be-
lief that tariffs should be built
scientifically with an impartial
commission to gather the facts on
which congress acted.
Once the senate got into the
vegetable oil fight the flood gates
of oratory swung wide. with the
result that no amendments were
disposed Of until late in the day.
Apparently worn out almost by
the five hours discussion of this
one item. the senate disposed Of
nearly a score of rates within an
hour. They included:
Pecans, unsheIled, three cents a
pound: house rate. one cert; she'll
ed, six cents a. pound; house rate.
two cents.
Hay. 81 ton; house rate, same.
Cabbage. 8 cents a pound, house
rate. 12 cents.
The senate reconsidered its ac-
ton in approving a rate Of So
cents per. 100 pounds on Irish po-
tatoes as against the house rate of
~ cents. but after Senator Walsh
! Democrat of Massachusetts, had
made a fight on the rate. 1t again
was approved. Senator Walsh said
| the duty proposed was .exorbitant.
indefensible and criminal almost, y
adding that if reflected in the price
of potatoes over the country it
would increase the cost of that
commodity to the consumers by
SAC, 100000. He charged that the
rate was written into the bill for
the benefit of potato growers in
one county in Maine and that while
this might have helped Senator
Hale Republican, of that state
state politically. it would prove
+, the most difficult rate in the agri-
cultural schedule for the Repubi-
cans to defend III New England
generally.