Evening star., 1922-06-25
CHARGES
. IN TARIFF DEBATE
Republican Leaders Gain
Support for Plan to
invoke Cloture.
OBTAIN ENOUGH sIGNERs
Controversy on Filibuster Renew
ed-Harrison and Smoot
f. Enliven Battle.

As charges and countercharges of
a flibuster on the tariff bill were
hurled back. and forth across the
Senate chamber for three hours yes
terday, republican leaders put under
way, their movement to attempt to
invoke the present cloture rule, OPP
erative under a two-thirds vote TO
shut off debate on the measure
A petition 20 put the rule into
effect was circulated by Senator Cur
tis of Kansas. vice chairman of the
republican Senate organization, and
st had many signers on the majority
side during the row as to whether
democrats or republicans We're re-
sponsible for the dragging along OF
the tariff legislation. Senator curtis
declined to say how many senators
had signed it, but it, was known
that the number far exceeded the
sixteen necessary to bring up the
question of cloture 80
Controversy Is Renewed.
The controversy as to filibuster,
which had broken out several times
since the tariff bill was called up,
two months ago, was renewed yes
terday, after Senator Townsend, re-
publican, Michigan, in prepared
were delaying the bill for political
reasons. Senators Simmons of North
Carolina. the democratic leader in
the tariff tight, entered a sharp de-
nial.- and the discussion then became
general, with charges from the DEM
ocratic side that the republicans
were filibustering their own bill.
To. support these counter charges
the democrats pointed to what they
called the republican side shows
r.%I H.. "a sSln lF' npd
Interruptions of democratic speakers
on the tariff made by republican
leaders. The matter of Interruptions
of speakers led to colloquy between
Senators Harrison, democrat, MlsS1s-
sippi, and Smoot, republican, Utah,
from which the gallery spectators
appeared to draw considerable amuse-
ment. AS the coiloquy progressed
the crowd broke into open laughter
but was Silenced by loud bangings
of the gavel in the hands of Sena-
tor Lenroot, republican, Wisconsin,
who was presiding.
Row Wears Out.
The filibuster controversy wore out
after three hours and the Senate got
? down to the tariff bill, approving
over the protests of Senators smith
of South Carolina and King of Ctah,
both democrats, rates of so per cent
ad valorem on knitting. braiding,
lace making and insulating machin-
cry and 80 per cent ad valorem on
other textile machinery.
Amendments by Senator King to
cut the rates to 80 per cent and 20
per cent. respectively. were rejected.
Senator Townsend asserted that the
country was weary Of "the interminable
debate which has dragged its weary
length through the days and nights OF
the past eight weeks
Every senator must have noticed,
he said that two or three democratic
senators are apparently operating In
relays, Sand when one gets tired the
other relieves him. And yet we are
told there is no filibuster on.
Object Held Political.
THE object that these senators have
in mind is political. Is it not strange
that these gentlemen who are more
interested in party success than In
passinga a good revenue bill should try
to delay the enactment of law
which they insist will destroy the re-
publicaM party? What these senators
fear mast is the passage Of the bill a
sufficieit time before election to get
a practical test of just what effect 1t
will have upon the general prosperity
of the eetintry.
own argument, and under the existing
rules a. the Senate they can. and
proab LH&Twi1 prevent action on this
measu me until late in the summer OF
Send5r Townsend said the history
of theEdebate on the bill showed how
"wise'fcH, would have been for the
Senatssto have, amended it's rules, as
he sugEssted at the opening of the
sessionssEo as to limit discussion. He
added ahat had this been done "our
work would have been practically COM
pleted.'
Country Needs Rest.
Congress could adjourn" he said
"and the country could be given a rest
from the petty debate which prolongs
the enactment of legislation and holds
the country in suspense. l am in favor
of proceeding to the business of amend.
ing the rules now, even if such action
should postpone the tariff and other
measures indefinitely
OF Ile tariff bill itself Senator
Townsend said he was not satisfied
with all the rates. regarding some as
TOO high, and would vote against them
but that there should be a revision
of the tariff despite chaotic conditions
existing in the world. He added that
the industry and business of the coun-
try demanded an early determination
of the tariff question.
u,r