The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-05-31
FIGHT STARTED
j, ON TARIFF BILL
C~ummins, Republican, of Iowa
Joins Underwood of Ala
bama and Stanley of Ken
lucky in Opposing Provi-
si0ns of Tariff Bill Being
Forced Through Senate

Washington. May 2G.-The SEN
ate came today to its first big fight
over individual schedules in the
tariff bill. Rates recommended by
the finance committee majority on
some steel products came under
fire from both the Republican and
Democratic sides Of the chamber,
but as rapidly as votes We're taken
the committee was sustained.
Senator Cummins Of Iowa, one
Of the Republican senators who
fought the Payne-Aldrich bill.
opened the fight on steel plates
and announced that he would have
amendments TO offer to many other
duties in the schedule. Senator
Underwood Of Alabama, Demo-
cratic leader, ard Senator Stanley
OF Kentucky conducted the fight
for the minority.
Asserting that for years the
United States Steel corporation had
fixed the price on substantially all
commodities it produced OF in
which it dealt, Senator Cummins
i4N tItC ilitillAott II liz 1IlOlioliS
was SO close that something be-
sides competition would have to be
depended upon to. fix reasonable
prices.
Il do not want to go to the point.
to which We r being forced
that of the government fixing
prices" said Senator Cun1mins,
therefore I am in favor Of ad-
justing the schedules to permit fair
competition from abroad, but I
do not know that that will be eff
fective."
The Iowa senator and Senators
Underwood and Stanley argued
that The United States could and
did produce steel cheaper than any
other country in the world, and in
sisted that tariff duties I'M
necessary. Senator Stanley said
the United States was selling in the
markets of the world and that in
the face of that the United States
Steel corporation wanted congress
to guarantee its profits against
any possible competition from for
eign lands.
Senator Underwood characteriz-
ed the rates on steel plates as "a
shame and a fraud on the Amer
lean people" He urged that con-
gress let the steel industry stand,
as it was a giant in the world of
industry ana not wet nurse it like
a baby in a crib"
In the course Of his address,
Senator Cummins disclosed that he
was one of the leaders on the ma
jority side, who sought to pre-
vent a general revision of the tar
if at this time. He said that this
was not the time for such legisla-
ton because chaotic conditions in
the world made it impossible to
obtain accurate information on
which to act. Senator Walsh,
f(Democrat) of Massachusetts, de-
clared Republican senator's were
hearing from home and were re-
ceiving letters and resolutions prov
ing the people had become aware
that the Democratic contention
that the bill would increase prices
was correct. In this connection
the Massachusetts senator read a
letter from Julius c. Moss OF Bos-
ton, vice president of the National
Association of Retail Clothiers,
stating as a result Of agitation rela-
tive 70 the proposed increase in
the tariff on wool prices Of cloth
had advanced so cents a yard.
Already, Mr.. Moss said, the ad-
vance in cloth cost meant an IN
crease Of 81 to 50 for each suit
! of clothes.