The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-20
REPUBLICANS
Defend HIGH
TARIFF RATES
Will Point to Fact that Bill
Permits President to Alter
Them-See Way to Disarm
Critics.
SCHEDULE is FLEXIBLE
By MARK SULLIVAN

way of changing the tariff bill is the
same thing that happened to the tax
bill a year ago. In that case the
house passed, the senate finance COM
mittee indorsed, and the senate itself
was about to pass measure In which
the rate to be paid on large incomes
was greatly reduced from the wartime
basis.
AS a result there was an outcry
from the country-or, at least, the
politicians thought there ought to be
an outcry-on the theory that the
rates on large incomes were being
materially reduced without any cor
responding reduction in the rates on
smaller incomes.
Thereupon, in the senate, middle
of-the-road group, led by Mccormick
of Illinois and Lenroot of Wisconsin,
gathered several senators around them
and put through compromise rate
on large incomes which was about
half way between the high rates of
the wartime measure and the low rate
of the new measure.
In the present case it is largely the
same group, under the same leader
ship, that has at the eleventh hour,
tried to make changes in the tariff
bill. When the present tariff bill was
initiated Senator Penrose was still
alive, and chairman of the finance
committee. Owing to his ill-health
and his rather pathetic wish to hold on
to the appearance of power, even
though the reality of it had passed
away from him, Penrose entered into
an arrangement with the farm bloc,
which he never would have made had
he been in good health He said to
the farm bloc in substance: Tell me
what you want in the tariff and l will
put it through"
Dominated Making
With that franchise the farm bloc
dominated the original making of the
bill and provided for very high tariffs
on farm products. When Penrose died
and was succeeded by McCumber,
coming from the almost purely agricul-
tural state of North Dakota, the dis
position to give high rates to the farm
ers was even more marked. The farm
bloc, in turn, said in substance that
since they had been given what they
wanted on farm products they would
be reasonable in allowing similarly
high rates to the eastern manufac-
turers.
1t was on this theory that the pres
ent bill was written originally. This
plan did not, however, work out with
satisfaction to the manufacturing end
of the combination. It sounds very
well to put high tariff on raw ma
terials from the farms, like leather and
wool, and then add enough to the tariff
on shoes and manufactured woolens to
take care of the situation. In prac-
tice, however, the result is, especially
from the point of view of manufactur-
ers who do an export business, i'm
possible.
Heard Dissatisfaction
At the same time expressions OF
dissatisfaction over the heighth of the
schedules generally arose from the con.
suming portion of the country 1t was
at this point that the middle-of-the-
read group laid hold of the bill, with
the theory of making the rates more
reasonable all around. 1t is probable
that even some schedules that have
actually been voted upon by the senate
will not be brought up again and re-
vised downward. At least it is the
intention to make the attempt. Wheth
er this attempt will be successful or
not. the tariff in one form or another
viii undoubtedly be put through.
It is true there are some Republican
senators who regard it as advisable to
throw the tariff bill overboard alto
gether for the present. The most prom
inent Republican senators who are
mentioned in this connection are Kei
logg, of Minnesota. and Cummins, OF
Iowa. This, however, will not BE- done
Nobody is very enthusiastic about the
new bill, but many Republican sena
tors generally regard the compromise
now being tried as the best way ou
, of difficult situation.
Permits Changes
The one aspect of the bill thai
makes it tolerable to persons who
might otherwise be very critical of i
is the provision which permits the
president to change the rates from
time to time in accordance with chang
ing facts as discovered and certified b!
the tariff commission. This provision
for fexibility in the bill is well un
derstood to be the one that is regard
ed by President Harding as import
ant. The provision for flexibility will
undoubtedly be attached to the bill
in some form, although its crecis,
character is still in doubt and will in
volve later choice between the var
IOuS dIlcIndllNeS pIOpOSeO.
There are some senator's like Borah
who will oppose this innovation on the
familiar constitutional ground that tht
legislative branch of the government
cannot delegate its functions of fixins
import duties. Nevertheless, this fea
ture of the bill will be passed. TIL,
theory of the Republicans is that Will
this device for fiexibility attached t.
the measure the bill asa whole canno
be described as excessively high. Thei
theory is that no rate named in tn,
bill can be picked out and attacked
as definite and Interchangeable rate.
Have Ready Response
The Republicans expect that if tn,
Democrats or the other enemies of tn
bill take any rate or rates as the sub
ject of attack. the Republicans cal
= thereupon reply that this rate is no
- irrevocable and that it can be and viii
be changed by the president wheneve
conditions warrant
In fact, it is the plan of some Of tn
Continued on Page Fourteen)