The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-08-12
HARDING FOR
| FLEXIBLE TARIFF
Declares Plan Should be Con-
StruCtIVe anG Progressive.
new SYSTEM IS NEEDED
The President Urges Senate to Make
Commission Agency For Recommend
ing Changes in Rates.

Washington, Aug. 12.-PreSident
Harding, i'll u letter to Senator Nc
Cumber, chairman of the tinance com
mittee. read To the senate, not only
urged flexible tariff be provided for,
but the tariff commission he made the
agency for investigation and recon-
mendatinn for changes i'll tariff rates.
The executive wrote the varying CON
ditionS in the world made ii essential
there he elasticity in The tariff and
declared the flexible plan proposed
would be Il "hi9hly constructive and
progressive step in retaining the good
and eliminating the abuses" in the
present system Of tariff making.
President Harding outlined To sen
atnrS summoned ~ the White House
The deSirablity of elasticity in the
tariff during present shifting world
conditions.
The executive conferred first with
Senator Oddje, of Nevada. leader Of
the Republican agricultural tariff bloc,
some members OF which are opposed
! In the flexible plan iii any form. and
later SAW Senator FrrIinghuySen. Re
publican. New Jersey. >p"n>"r of the
scientific" tariff plan
While the president MAS in confer
ence with senators. the finance com
mittee majority and il number of eN-
pertS worked Oh i rr-drafl of the
flexible plan IL Incorporate the Len
root am, ndinrntS Pr"I"S.ng IN curtalI
further lhe power of the president ana
Ia make The RUE ii rates the difference
in COSTS of production rather than in
conditions of competition.
Senator I.tnroor met with the com
mittee. which was assisted in its tech
nical drafting work BY Judge De Nrie>
head of The court of customs appeals
The rewriting of the committee sub
StituIe WAS still under way when The
fight over the plan was renewed or
the floor with Senator Townsend. Re
publican. Michigan, declaring for 4
| rule of reason in The fixing of tariff
rates.
Senator Bursum, New Mexico. Il
member of the Republican agricultur
| tn the committee plan limiting the
! period of the presidents authority
! over the tariff duties to November 30
1924 He proposed also the executive
should NOT have authority to change
specific rates to ad valorem duties Oh
al valorem duties TO specify rates.
Senator Sterling. Republican. Nnrtl
| Dakota, supporting the flexible plan
! with amendments. said congress SHOULD
| lay down the rule that the rates t.
| he fixed should he just and reason
| able" as has been done when author
! ity over Interstate freight and pas
senger rates was vested in the inter
| state commerce commission. Under
amendments proposed by the commit
| tee the president could revert to Amer
! lean valuation as basic of fixing
| duties only in the case of intermedi
! ateS for dyes or finished dyes.
The. flexible tariff amendments wer,
| described by Senator Underwood o.
| Alabama, the Democratic leader, Il:
"a shameful confession" of the incom
| potency of congress to deal with tn,
| situation. He declared it was Il dan
| gerous proposition to place such ;
great taxing power into the hands o
| one man.
The president, he added, could con
| suit any one he wished in making
| decision as to what the rates shout,
he and the tariff commission, he add
! ed. could only present the facts.
| Senator Underwood went on 10 81,
! by increasing some rates by 30 pc
| cent over the figures in the pending
| bill industries could be destroyed 0
| those in particular industries mad
| enormously wealthy"
| This is the greatest power for pc
! litical corruption and political advan
| tage that ever has been given sine
! the beginning Of this government" h
| said