The New York herald., 1922-07-23
SENATORS OPEN WAR
ON HIGH WOOL RATE
in TARIFF MEASURE
New Republican Revolt Ex-
pected Against Loftiest
Duties in History.
DEMOCRATS LEAD FRAY
Senator Walsh Says Pro-
gram Will Add $2OO,OOO,-
600 to Clothing Costs.
OUTSOARS SCHEDULE K
Majority Party Warned In
sistence on Plans Means
Waterloo 'as in 1922
oUTsoARs SCHEDULE K
SSscsol Dispatch to THE New YORK HmALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
WaShingtou. ID. c.. July 22.

SSscsol Dispatch to THE New YORK HEzALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. d. c.. July 22.
With the fat declaration that tho
wool schedule means 200,000.000 a
year additional burden on the Ameri-
can people In clothing costs. the oppo-
nents Of the Fordney- Met Cumber tariff
bill started in the Senate to-day what
promises to be the most vigorous fight
yet waged against any of the rates.
Senator Walsh (Dem.. Mass.) con-
demned the schedule as the highest
ever levied on raw wool in American
tariff history. He declared the rates
to be so per cent. in excess of those
In the much berated Schedule X of the
Payne-Aldrich law. He predicted that.
unless the Republicans recede from
the excessive rates, the party will be
repudiated in the coming elections.
Senators McCumber (Rep.. N. d.. in
charge Of the bill. Smoot (Rep., Utah) (,
In charge of the wool schedule. and
Gooding (Rep. Idaho). Chairman OF the
Senate agricultural tariff bloc, at
tempted to defend the rates as neces-
sary for the life Of the wool growing
industry In America.
Gooding Set Figures.
Senator Gooding. himself a wool
grower and wool dealer, is largely re-
sponsible for the high rate OF 33 cents
a pound for clean wool. having dictated
the figure as a result of the influence he
obtained through the organization Of
the agricultural bloc which comprises
twenty-five Senator's. all ready to help
each other fulfill their wishes on high
tariff duties.
In consequence, the rates came to be
known In the Senate corridors to-day
as the "Gooding rates." They are in
tricate and for obvious reasons diff
cult to compare with tho wool rates of
previous tariff bills.
As key to what Is in the minds
OF the wool growers, Senator Bursum
On. Nd. said the rates would yield the
wool growers of the country a profit or
10 per cent a year.
Senator Bursum made this statement
In defense Of the rates during a sharp
interchange with Senator Walsh, who
led the attack from the Democratic side.
That" Senator Walsh responded
quickly. sheds great deal OF light on
the situation. To have Congress
legislate to insure any speciaal group
a fixed profit on investment Is some
thing new In tariff making"
Senator Smoot jumps,l into the argu-
ment with the declaration that what
ever may have been in tire minds of the
wool growers. 1t was MT the purpose of
the Senate Finance Committee to make
any such guaranty. The committees
idea, he said, was to protect American
wool growers from foreign competition.
Sees "Deadly Parallel"
1T Is quite a coincidence that the
committees rate and the rate to yield a
definite profit Of 10 per cent. for the
wool growers should be the same" re-
sponded Senator Walsh.
The fight over the wcol schedule will
run for a week or moro and It Is likely
that It will be Tuesday or Wednesday
before vote will be taken on the frst,
or key. item of the schedule. This fxes
a sliding scale for wool according to
shrinkage, clean wool being listed at SO
cents a pound.
The Democrats and some Republicans
will make a desperate fight, declaring
that such exorbitant rates mean simply
that everybody in the country who
wears woolen clothing will suffer the
added costs. 1t Is expected that Senator
Gooding will be under ire because of his
personal interest in tn, wool industry
and because he has been instrumental In
obtaining the high duties.
Senator Goodng took an active part
In the long debate to-day. delivering at
the outset high tariff speech and in
jecting hmseir into the debate at in
tcrvals. He challenged tie statement of
Senator Walsh that public contempt for
scre5ule ''K' In the PayIe-Aldrich tariff
law had much to do with the Republican
defeat in 1912
Wool was not the Issue in that cam
paign," said Senator Gooding. The
issue then was between Two men. Roosc-
Welt and Taft"
II can only repeat my statement"
replied Senator Walsh, that public dis
approval Of Schedule X was an impor-
tant element In the elections OF 1912"
Cloth Is Exhibited.
Senator McCumber displayed a piece
of cloth which he said sold for $5.s5
yard In April. 1920 when wool was on
the free list In the Underwood law (be-
fore the emergency law went into effect)
and which is selling nov for $3.50
yard. He asserted that the law OF sup
ply and demand. not the tariff. estab-
lished prices.
April. 1920" said Senator Walsh,
was time when abnormal spending
conditions. due to the war. were prevail
ing; to-day we have depression. Does
the Senator make the point that the
price of commodity Is not reflected In
the tariff?"
Senator McCumber admitted that, to
Continued on Page Two.