Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-01
SAYS Silk Not Luxury

Says Silk Not Luxury
IF anything could be more astound-
ing than this expansion he continued,
1T would be audacity of the proposal
in the pending tariff bill to enlarge the
tariff duties on six imports in the face
of the record under existing rates"
Disputing that silk was a luxury. the
Texas senator declared that silk or
part silk articles were Of such wide
spread use among the American people
that to a material and growing extent
they might be classed as comforts and,
in some instances, necessities.
High Prices Invited
Tariff duties on wooden blankets
ranging from 20 cents per pound and
30 per cent nd valorem, were approved
Monday by the senate by a vote of 33
to "a. The Underwood law rate was
% per cent ad valorem.
The amendment of Senator Lenront.
republican, Wisconsin. to redlce the
protective duty by approximately :, FER
cent. which was pending when the SEN
ate recessed Saturday. was rejected. 80
to 81. Nine republicans supported It
and two democrats. Broussard ard
Ransdell, voted against it. The rrpuh-
licans were Borah. Capper. ,cummins.
Jones of Washington. Kellogg, Len
root. Nelson. Norbeck and Sterling.
On motion to approve the committee
rates on felts ranging from 20 cents
per pound and 81 per cent ad valorem
to 40 cents per pound and 40 per cent.
Senator Walsh. democrat of Massachu-
sets. argued the duties were u~njusti-
fled, holding that exports far exceeded
imports.
Cut on Cheap Felt
Senator Smoot of Utah. for the com
mittee majority, explained that it had
reduced the protective rate on cheap
felts from So per cent-the Underwood
rate--but had increased the protection
on the very expensive felts.
Over protests of the minority. the
senate approved a committee rate of
40 cents a pound on the wool content
and 50 per cent ad valOrem on tubings,
garters. suspenders, braces, cords and
t~assels.
After some difficulty in obtaining a
quorum. the senate approved. 80 to II,
these duties on wooden wearing ap-
parel:
Knit fabrics in the piece, from 33
cents a pound and 40 per cent ad va
loren to 40 cents a pound and 80 per
mittens. from 80 cents a pound and 30
cent ad valorem.
Hose and half hose, and gloves and
per rent to 40 cents a pound and 80 per
cent.
Knit underwear from 80 cents a
pound and 10 per cent to 40 cents a
pound and 30 per cent.
Outer wear and other articles knit
or crocheted, not specially provided
for. from 80 cents a pound and 40 per
cent to 40 cents a pound mad 80 per
cent.
Predicts Price Boosts
This brought the senate to consid-
Grafton of duties on mems clothing and
all other clothing Of every description.
whether knit or crocheted. Declaring
the duties proposed wholly unnecessary
and not desired by the clothing manu-
%facturers. Senator Walsh of Massa-
chusetts said there wasn't any doubt
that there was going to be a "very
substantial increase in the price OF
clothing as a result of the raw wool
rate and the protective duties proposed.
Taking a suit Of clothes imported
from England and delt with in the
Reynolds report on prices in the Amer
lean market in August. 1920. Senator
| Walsh said that suit, valued at S29.53,
would have had to pay a duty OF $lS.2O
under the senate rates, S23.94 under
the house rates, $10.34 under the I'm
derwood law. $12.14 under the emer-
gency act and $19.4S under the Payne
Aldrich bill.
Senator Walsh said the duties pro-
posed were an invitation to clothing
manufacturers to raise their prices.