The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-06-05
THE 1MpoprANCE OF THE TARIFF

There is. perhaps. no subject OF legislation so
vital TO tho commerce and industry Of the
nation. so universally talked of and yet 30
slightly understood the pending tariff bill.
Par.lsans opposed to the protection theory
have made much adoo about the pending tariff,
how It will increase the cost OF living etc, etc.
And the public looks on the congressional
squabble and listens TO the age old debate in
which nothing new appears, and wonders what
It 10 all about.
II It could be understood that the tariff bill
now pending in congress Is holding up general
prosperity. that until some permanent tariff
law has been enacted commerce cannot go for
ward smoothly and intelligently. there would
be a pressure brought TO bear the congress
which would not only silence the partisan oppo-
stion to the tariff, but would prevent the con-
slant displacement of the tariff bill on the leg
lsative calendar by other less important legis-
lation. e
In a recent issue the Chicago Journal OF Com
merce gets to cases in presenting the Importance
of the pending tariff BILL Because OF i,s clarity
and because II presents concrete instances of
business stagnatlon due to delay in passing the
tariff bill. the entire comment Is reproduced;
Not all "the new foundation needed by
the business OF the country to rebuild an
era or prosperity as senator LouSo mas
expressed It. has been laid. The senator
from Massachusetts was speaking about the
pending tariff legislation than which moth
ing Is more needed now in the work OF re-
construction In industry, commerce. ship
ping and finance
II Is not sufficient to say that the country
has emergency tariff law under which
1t works. That law admittedly Is only n
~makeshlft. Business cannot plan very far
into the future under an emergency tariff
law. Radical changes may be made In It
by the permanent act to take Its place and
the result might be disastrous
Business can proceed under an emergency
law only from day to day and even that II
has not dared to do for some time now In
the case of the present emergency tariff
law. but, with the measure to supplant It In
tho course OF enactment. OF necessity has
stood still. There is the case OF 6O,000,000
pounds OF wool imported In Boston during
thu last four months that is being held in
bond awaiting the passage OF the tariff bill
which Is expected TO provide lSwer ero rate Sds
pounds OF wool ors-seventh OF the countrys
total consumption, lying idle in a state OF
coma, az 1t were, while congress loiters or
squabbles, In any case nsufferaby delaying
this badly needed tariff legisatlonl
As with wool so in many other ways
business thus is being held back all over
the country. IL IL almost year since the
bin was introduced in the house and suffi-
cient time long since has elapsed for the
completion OF the legislation, and still the
end ls hardly in sight. Instead such sinis-
ter terms as fillbus,er, gag rule, cloture,
long distance talking, and so FORTH have
cropped out in the correspondents news
from Washington recently. II what Is
meant by these words OF threat and de-
fiance between republicans and democrats
In the senate should come to pass, namely,
wrangllng that will merely consume time
and get nowhere, II will be intolerable with
the countrys patience already worn out
after more than year OF waiting for per-
manent tariff readjustment.
Let politics take a back seat and personal
considerations sink out OF sight for the
greatest good to the greatest number!
Business as It was argued In these columns
last fall when conditions in congress seemed
to call for reproof. In the important concern
of the nation. Its Improvement dispels
social Ills and many other elements now
are making for such improvement with
| congress almost alone holding back In this
matter of the tariff The country should not
have to wait another year or so--'until
| there is a chill in the air." as our WASH
ington correspondent expresses u. So
Hasten the tariff hill