The New York herald., 1922-05-29
Cost Of Living Items Indicate
Bill Has Pork Barrel
Initiation.
DEMOCRATS PLAN FIGHT
Intend to Resort to Filibus-
tering While Republican
Revolt Grows.
Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., May 28.


Protests are pouring in upon members
! the high rates in the Fordney McCumber
tariff bill upon articles which enter into
the cost of living.
! The belief that the bill will increase
| living costs is causing many Republ-
cans in the Senate where the measure
! is pending. and not few in the House,
who voted for the Fordney rates, to Won
der whether the bill may not have been
loaded down too heavily in the effort to
gain support constructed on the pork
barrel" or log rolling principle. giving
everybody what he wanted.
The Democrats are claiming they will
prevent the passage of the bill in it's
present form by forcing it back into the
Finance Committee for revision. They
intend, If necessary, to resort to filibus-
tering tactics, although they are not
| openly using that term yet Meantime
the symptoms of revolt in the Republi-
can ranks are growing.
With the average of rates as reported
by Senator McCumber not only higher
than the average of the Fordney rates
in the House bill. but higher than in
any tariff law ever enacted, according
to the estimates of experts, the question
Is being asked by the outsider: ITO
what extent will these increased rates
be added to the retail prices of the
necessities of life?"
Insist Upon Rates.
While admitting that in some in
stances retail prices may be increased
| af Mc(sn
ber and his high tariff associates insist
the rates absolutely are necessary to
prevent the destruction of American in
dustries through the dumping upon the
American markets of cheap products
produced by cheap labor from foreign
countries. They contend the post war
conditions in Europe will require high
tariff wall be maintained around the
United States for many years to pre-
vent American wage earners from being
reduced to the level Of laborers across
the Atlantic.
To all protests against the high rates
even on the necessities of life. such as
food and clothing. the protection ex-
tremists reply that the agitation comes
from the importer who wants to bring
goods into this country at low rates
and sell them at an advantage. But
it is becoming evident the present pro-
tests are not so much from importers
as from consumers. That fact is Civ
! ing the Republican leaders of the SEN
| ate real concern
There are Republicans in Congress
! who have not forgotten the insurgent
NOV cement that followed the enactment
| of the Payne -Aldrich tariff and the
defeat of the Republican party In the
| subsequent Congressional elections. The
tight within the Republican ranks
| led by such men as the late Sena-
tor Jonathan p. Doliver, of Iowa, was
made in the interest of the ultimate
consumer" just as it is beginning to
be made at present.
McCumber on Defense.
One OF the indications that the pro-
| tests against the bill are being observed
J by the leaders, is that they have abar
! doned their cocksure attitude and are
admitting the need of defending the bill
| from attack.
! Senator McCumber On. d. has been on
the defensive for severa. weeks. To-
day Senator Lodge (Mass). the floor
leader of the Republicans, put himself
| In an attitude of defense.
The old charge that it Is the import
ers who are merely selfish and the
Democrats who are politically opposed
| to protection OF American industries
who are responsible for these protests
is relied upon by Senator Lodge as his
| chief arguments.
1T have been through eight tariff de-
bates" he said, in statement issued
tonight. THE importers and the Demo-
Gratis always put up the same camou-
! 1aged attacks that we hear to-day. but
! the country inya riahlv returns and sum