Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-12
ADMINISTRATION
TARIFF MEASURE
IS TOSSED INTO
SENATE HOPPER
Bill VIII Not Be Called Up
Before April 20, to Give
Senators Time to Study
It MCCumber States.
RATES HIGHER THAN
PAYNE E-ALDRICH LAW
Some Leaders Predict Its
Adoption In About 90
Days; Other Estimates
Range High as 6 Months

(By The Associated Press.)
Washington, April IL (by the As
lsociated Press. 1.-THE long awaited
administration tariff bill was pre-
Isented today in the senate. Sena-
tor McCumber, republican, North
Dakota, in speaking of the meas
lure, announced that to give sena-
TORS time to study it, he would not
call it up before April 20. Some
Republican leaders thought 1t would
be passed after about silky days OF
debate 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
average of its rates is slightly high
er than the average of the Payne
Aldrich Ian, the last republican
tariff act. The Payne-A1drich level
was approximately Al per cent on
all dutiable imports and 21 per
cent on all imports free and duti-
able. The average of the demo-
cratic Underwood tariff, which the
new bill would replace, was 1850
and 1888 per cent, respectively, in
1914, the first year of its operation
and the only year when trade was
not seriously affected by the world
war or after the war conditions.
Comparisons Difficult.
Comparing this bill with the
Fordney measure, which the house
passed last July 21,. and of which
this is a rewrite, the experts esti-
mate that the average of all rates
is lower, though the specific rates,
and more particularly those on
foodstuffs, are somewhat higher.
Exact comparisons of the ad valo-
rem duties in the two bills are
somewhat different, due to the fact
that the senate committee threw
overheard the house American
valuation plan, returning to tho
foreign valuation principle.
While they have not completed
all calculations, treasury experts
say that the senate measure proba-
bly, would raise between 1880, ,000,-
600 and $3.50, 100000 in revenue, as
compared with the estimate OF
$500, 600, 900 for the Fordney bill
land the $30S, 100000 Of revenue re-
turned in the calendar Year 1921
for the joint operation of the I'm.
derwood and the emergency tariff
TACT.
Foreign Valuation.
In returning to the foreign val
uation principle, the senate COM
mittee majority carried out sugges-
tions of President Harding to con-
gress last December for a flexible
tariff. Under special provisions in
the measure, the president, in the
language of the majority report
which accompanied the bill. would
be authorized:
"To modify tariff rates either up
ward or downward within pre-
scribed limits $50 per cent? and IN
accordance with definite rules lalc
down by congress so that rates
may at all times conform to ex-
isting conditions.
"To change the basis for the as
sessment of ad valorem duties on
selected items from the foreign
value to the value of the domestic
article in the American market
when the foreign value is not a
certain basis for the assessment or
duties on such items.
any country which discriminates
hibit the importation of particular
goods for the purpose of prevent
in the importation of goods.
Additional Duties.
ITO impose additional duties on
the whole or any part OF t}fe Inn
ports into the United States from
against our overseas commerce.
There additional duties are limited
to the amount of the discrimina-
ton. but IL the discrimination is
maintained, the importation OF
merchandise may be prohibited.
Asserting that these elastic tariff
provisions were regarded by the
committee as Undoubtedly constf-
tutiCnal." the report declared that
they would Contribute to tariff
stability by preventing the accum-
ulation Of cases which ultimately
force the upheaval of a general
tariff revision" 1t was added thas
Investigations of possible tartff
changes would be carried out under
judicial procedure and that the
parties interested would be giver
en- opportunity to be heard.
Purpose of the Bill.
Outlining the purpose of the bill,
the report said the committee had
endeavored to recommend rates
which would afford protection to
American industries and permit
them to pay wages sufficient TO
enable the workmen to maintain
an American standard of living.
and also rates sufficient to "main-
tain essential industries created as
a result of the war and consid-
cred vital to the future industrial
independence of the American peo-
pie"
Taking up what was described
as the "need of tariff revision
the committee majority said in the
limited time before the war that
the "low rates" of the Underwood
law were in effect, those rates
had caused retrenchment in
production of American products
and had decreased the purchasing
power of the American workman
because of reduction in wages
It added that "the outbreak Of the
war was the salvation of the Amer
lean industry"
Present Day Conditions.
Discussing present day condi-
tions, the report said "the quota
tions made by foreign producers
for export sale of late have been
so extremely low that they threat
en- the destruction of American in
dustries and have consequently de-
moralized American trade" It add
ed that "this condition exists al
the present time and il Is believed
will continue to exist until rates
are established that will afford
fair protection to American indus
tries"
a.. 80 L..