Evening star., 1922-04-29
The 'stormy Petrol" Returns.

Probably no subject editorially dis
cussed in the history OF the nation
has resulted in such a divergence Of
views as has followed the reporting
to the Senate by the finance commit
tee Of the amended Fordney tariff
bill. In its Imported shape It appar-
emily satisfied nobody. Democrats de-
nounced it Republicans questioned
the general changes made by the SEN
ate from the House bill. And the ia
dependent press accepted the report
more as subject to talk about than
anything else. 1t seemed to be ac-
cepted that changes would be made
and that. until they actually had been
framed. 1t was Just as we'll to wait
patiently and not construct or announce
too positive an opinion. -
"The possibilities for political black
mail are practically uniimited,n In the
World (democratic). which sees sug-
rates a. . "club for rewarding the
faithful and the generous" The mo.
tive compelling the committee in
dependent democratic) Is convinced.
is force of habit" which causes the
Baltimore Sun (democratic) to assert
that Its purpose is to raise prices In
the interest of certain classes at the
expense Of others"
. The Springfield (Mass.) Union IRE
publican) calls attention to the fact
that "our tariffs have never been
made in more diff1cult circumstances
and the practical effect Of any re-
vision that ultimately comes out of
Congress must be more or less prob
Ia ~ -
ditioEs in Europe are so uncertain"
That the majority explanation "of
our business depression has at least
the merit Of novelty" Is stressed by
the New York Evening Post 0nde-
pendent). which, however, believes
tariff will make trouble for the con-
sumner, while meantime It is going to
make trouble for the republican con-
gressmen." In addition the entire
document 10 economically unsound."
the Boston Post independent demo.
"ths old guard high tariff men Of the
east have evidently co-operated with
the agricultural bloc. and by throw
ing valueless sops to the farmers
on manufactured goods" Which leads
the Boston Transcript Independent
republican, TO suggest that there are
'fnjustices involved In the Senate bill
and in the meantime the manufac.
turers Of the country arc carrying all
or most Of the expenses involved By
the war without the market which
the war created and are. consequent
ly. pretty nearly para1ysed."
The fact that Chairman Fordney OF
the ways and means committee de-
clared that the House would fight for
"snow iies" leads the indianapolis
News Independently to- declare that
"if the present course is adhered to
we shall have at least six months Of
uncertainty while the tariff doctors
are lighting their battles" and to in
1arf TIN sa' senate sas s'0Hsas having
spawned the tariff bill." the Harris
burg Patriot (democratic) charac-
terizes 1t a. ''in some respects higher
than the notorious Payne-Aldrich
law" thereby cutting out compsti-
turer can raise his price without fear
Of being cut. Such . manufacturer
10 the beneficiary Of special privf-
lege." And. after all. in the opinion
Of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (inde-
pendent democratic). taken az Q
Of the senate wholly disregards pre-:
vailing tendencies in international
Whether there will be any radical
changes 10 q question. In the opinion
Of the New Haven Journal-Courier
Independently. which asks whether
"the democratic minority in the SEN
ate has brains enough left to expose
the duplicity Of this bill by offering
3 bill constructed on basis OF
knowledge and experiencef A bold
fplay At this time offers extraordinary
inducement II II has sense enough
to stop the play OF partisan forces
sna play r.. -: ran, R.,.,es q SsH. Ss:1n':, :.s
cbserver (demooratic) to remark
that .the Fordney tafi6 would deny
the only, hope to returning pros
perity," ana the Lynchhurg News
(democNaticy to express the belief
! fhat sthe administration tarin BILL. Il
rassed, VIII expedite the democratic
reyiyal that 10 now % evident to ALI" )"
Tho agricultural schedules DO not
pleSse the Philade1phia Record (inde-
nendent democratic), which contends
that 'if Mr.. McCumber calls hi! tarin
the first national tariff because II puts
q duty Of so cents a bushel on wheat
and Z cents . pound on. long staple
cotton. ne - selling the farmers .
gold bric1I" But the republican party