Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-01
|SENATEF|XES
WOOL TARIFF;
FIGHT ENDED
Schedule Adopted as Re-
ported by Committee;
Silk Question Is Next.
Opinion Is Divided as
to When Final Vote
May Be Taken on Bill.

Washington. July 31-Consideration
of the wool schedule which has fur
nished the one big Eight in the ad-
ministration tariff bill. was completed
by the senate after the approval with
I change of import duties proposed by
the finance committee majority on
blankets, wearing apparel and floor
coverings. The silk schedule then was
taken up and leaders were hopeful that
committee amendments to this could
be disposed of Tuesday.
There still was divided opinion Mon
day as to when final vote on the
measure could be had. but republican
leaders were unanimous in declaring
that the senate would pass the bill.
Taking cognizance of report pub
lished in Washington that the senate
would abandon the measure, Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts. the majority
leader. made this statement:
This bill is going to be passed by
the senate, and that at the first oppor-
tunity.
I'VE are going to stick to it and pass
il as soon as we can get vote. Re-
ports that il might be laid aside or
allowed to fail are absolutely without
! justification The bill will be passed
and put on the statute books as soon
as possible.
As was the case Saturday. the SEN
ate had difficulty in keeping quorum,
and the sergeant-at arms was directed
to require the presence of absentees.
After quorum had been obtained, Sen
ator McCumber. republican. North Da-
kota. in charge of the bill. said he
wanted it understood that the order
for absentees was to stand for the
remainder of the present legislative
day-now more than three months old
If that day lasted until next March 4
Later kilograms were sent to absent
senators urging their presence.
G. o. p. Split Noticeable
While the split in the republican
ranks was noticeable. there was one
sizeable controversy Monday over wool
duties. some republicans and most of
the democrats voting against the duties
on clothing. Senator Smoot. repub-
lican. Utah, in charge of the schedule,
said and Senator Walsh of Massachu
nority. agreed that only novelties were
imported; that the American ready
made clothing industry could compete
with the world. Senator Walsh argued,
however. that the duties were an in
vitation TO domestic manufacturers to
combine and increase their prices TO the
level of the tariff. Senator Srnoot told
the senate the duties would affect
largely those Americans who sought
to APE the English dude" by wear
ing only clothes made in London. He
also said there were Americans who
desired to APE the Prince of Wales.
wearing baggy trousers when he wears
them"
Opening debate on the silk schedule,
Senator McCumber said that since the
government had lost $500, 100000 in
revenue yearly through the operation of
the prohibition amendment added funds
had TO be obtained from some source
and that there was no better source, in
his judgment. than luxuries such as
silk. He explained. however. that the
duties proposed. ranging from 30 10
60 per cent ad valorem. were for pro-
lection of the domestic industries. as
well as for revenue The principal
democratic argument against the silk
duties. Senator Shepherd of Texas
showed the enormous growth of the
American silk industry since 1914, de-
claring it now to be the largest in the
world. with production valued at
S1S5, 100000 in 1919 Against this
production. he said, there We're imports
that year of only S53,OOO.OOO. about
half of which was imported in bond
Continued on Page Two)