Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1922-07-05
REPUBLICANS
Are NERVOUS
OVER TARIFF
G. o. P. Grows Uneasy on
Eve Of Congressional
Elections-Price Increases
Sure.

"t| w SeOhs -
Increasing evidence OF the .unpopu-
larity for the MISUNDERSTANDING
tariff bill, particularly in the large
cities some Republican leaders have
begun to doubt the wisdom OF
passing the measure on the eve
of the congressional election.
The impression that the bill car
rios protective duties higher than
even the Paync-Aldrich law and
will operate to increase the cost OF
living is becoming widespread and
IL being deepened by the recent
rise in the cost of food which Is
attributed to the emergency farm
nroducts tariff act. Republican lead
ers have been assuring the farmers
tn It the rise in price for thelt
nr.ducts is due to the emergency
tariff and consumers are accept
inw the statement as explanation
OF the higher prices they are pay
in-.
That prices rise following a re-
virion OF the tariff upward is gen.
erally admitted, though protective
tariff advocates contend that
competition then operates to reduce
price lesels to some extent.
Prices Rise on E ection Eve
In the case Of the Fordney-Mc-
Cumber bill the prospective price
rise will take place on the eve
OF election If present plans are
carried out for it is unlikely that
tho law can be enacted before
October j. The Senate plans to pass
it early III August but it cannot
be sent to conference with the
House until the House returns from
its holiday in August. 1t will be
in conference at least a month and
wrangling over tho conference re-
rort is likely to consume u couple
Of weeks.
From the viewpoint of political
strategy the bill ought to nave
been passed months ago and some
administration officials denounce
unsparingly the Republican leaders
in Congress for deliberately pro-
ceeding to put through a high
thrift bill shortly before election, nj
which popular dissatisfaction with
the measure might lose the Republi-
can control in the House in the next
election. Some of these officials will
urge the president to veto the bill.
McCumber and Fordncy Insistent
The question of postponing pass
age of the tariff law until the
winter session after the election
has been discussed by some of the
Republican leaders who are fear
ful Of the political consequences
of enactment before the election,
but Senator McCumber and Repre-
sentative Fordncy insist that it
will be passed at this session. The
farmers and manufacturers, who by
pooling their Influence, have put
over the higher rates. are preparing
for immediate action.
The advocates of the bill are UNI
willing to risk passage at the
short winter session always favor
able to filibustering opposition
which would become formidable il
the Republicans should lose control
OF tho House and thereby deprive
the president of the ecours of
calling an extra session of the
next Congress to pass a protective
tariff bill.
The defenders of the bill minim-
ize these political alarms and assert
that it would be much more danger
GUS to the party to fail to pass
q bill which the farmers and the
manufacturing interests have been
clamoring for.
Textile Schedules This Week
Textile schedules of the tariff bill
will be reached by the Senate this
week and one of the most heated
controversies Of the debate is in
prospect. To avert the possible re-
lection Of the McCumber bill pro-
visions in the cotton schedule, the
finance committee has under con
sideration a number of changes.
These proposed amendments, which
it is understood will reduce some
of the duties of cotton manufac-
turcrs are to be considered by the
finance committee today in advance
of the Senate session. The amend
ments will be ready for presenta-
tion to the Senate by Wednesday
when the cotton schedule may be
reached.
The finance committee in franz
ing the McCumbcr bill not only in
creased some of the duties of the
cotton schedule over those of the
House bill but added what the
Democrats describe as a Joke
operating to increase 161 per cent
the duty on cotton handkerchiefs,
and similar increases in other cot
Aton goods.
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