The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-12
ADMINISTRATORS TARIFF BILL ISAT
 LAST PRESENTED
Measure Not to Be Called Up Until April 20, in Order to Permit Study of the New
 Tariff Schedule
Rx Associated Press


 Washington, April 1.-The long awaited administration tariff bill was presented today in the Senate. Senator McCumber, republican North Dakota, in charge of the meas ure, announced that to give senators time to study it he would not call it up before April 20. Some republi- can leaders thought it would be passed after about sixty days of de- bate, but other estimates ranged as high as three months.
 Experts who assisted the Senate finance committee majority to pre- pare the bill estimate that the aver age of it's rates is slightly higher than the average of the Payne -Aldrich law, the last republican tariff act. The Payne -Aldrich level was ap- proximately Al per cent on all dutia- ble imports and 21 per cent on all imports, free and dutiable. The aver age of the democratic Underwood tariff, which the new bill would re- place was 37.60 and 14.S8 per cent re- spectively, in 1914, the first year of its operation and the only year when trade was not seriously affected by the World war or after-thewar con- ditions
 Comparing this bill with the Ford Comparoing this bill with the Ford ney measure. which the House passed last July 21. and of which this is rewrite, the experts estimate that the average of all rates Is lower though the specific rates. and more particularly those on foodstuffs are somewhat higher. Exact compari sons of the ad vaIorum duties In the two bills are somewhat difficult, due to the fact that Senate committee threw overheard the House Ameri- can valuation plan, returning to the foreign valuation principles. While they have not completed all calculations. treasury experts say that the Senate measure probably would raise between $3S0.o000oo and l S350, 100000 in revenue as compared with the estimate of $500. .000, 900 for l the Fordney bill and the $302, 000, 009 of revenue returned in the calendar | year 1921 from the joint operation of the Underwood law and the emer- gency tariff act.
 Follow Harding Suggestion i In returning to the foreign valda | tion principle. the Senate committee | majority carried out suggestions E | President Harding to Congress last December for flexible tariff. Under l special provisions In the measure, the | President. in the language of the ma jority report which accompanied the | bill, would be authorized:
 ITO modify tariff rates either up- ward or downward within prescribed | limits (50 per cent) and in accord ance with definite rules laid down by l Congress so that rates may at all 1 times conform to existing condition. "To change the basis for the assess ment of ad valorem duties on select ed Items from the foreign value to the value of the domestic article In the American market when the for eign value is not a certain basis for the assessment of duties on such items.
 ITO impose penalty or prohibit the importation of particular goods for the purpose of preventing unfair methods of competition nthe impor- tation of goods.
 ITO impose additional duties on the whole or any part of the imports into the United States from any country which discriminates against our over seas commerce. These additional du- ties are limited to the amount of the discrimination. but if the discrimna tion Is maintained importation of mer- chandse may be prohibited"
 Mean Stability
 
 provisions were regarded by the com mittee as undoubtedly constitu- l tional." the report declared that they 1 would contribute to tariff stability by preventing the accumulation of cases which ultimately force the up- heaval of a general tariff revision.' It was added that the investigations i, of possible tariff changes would be carried out under judicial procedure and that the parties interested would be given an opportunity to be heard Outlining the purpose Of the bill. | the report said the committee had endeavored to recommend rates that would afford protection to American industries and permit them to pay wages sufficient to enable the work men to maintain an American stand ard of living and also rates sufficient to maintain essential industries ere ated as a result of the war and con sidered vital to the future industrial independence of the American peo- pie"
 In attempting to fix rates of duty in this bill,"~ the report continued. your committee was faced with q condition never before experienced in tariff legislation. In certain foreign countries high costs of production existed to such an extent that duty which would afford protection upon imports from such countries would be entirely insufficient to afford pro- tection from countries havirs low production costs. On the other hand the imposition of rate sufficient to afford protection from countries with low production costs would be an ab- solute embargo on the products of countries having production costs nearer our own.
 The rates imposed by this bill are sufficient to protect the American tContinued on Page Two.)