Arizona republican., 1922-04-14
SIMMONS OPENS
SENATE ATTACK
ON TARIFF BILL
raspuoIIean 4. p. Leassd wirs1


WASHINGTON, April TS.- The
Democratic attack on the adminis-
tration tariff bill was opened today
by Senator Simmons OF North Caro-
lima, ranking member of the senate
finance committee. who in a state
ment characterized 1t as 'the most
un- -Americanized bill ever framed. 2
He predicted its operation would
"penalize our export business which
will mean in the end curtailment of
production and increased unemploy-
ment on the farms. in the mines and
in the factories.
AT the same time senators of the
Republican agriculturai-tariff bloc
had the first of series of meetings
to consider rates in the measure
which were fixed by the finance
committee majority at figures below
those suggested by the bloc. Senator
bloc. said also that 1t was the pur-
pose to take UP American valuation
at the meetings.
There Is a strong sentiment in
the senate for American valuation"
he said. II do not want TO put all
our members on record as favoring
it. but. many ara strongly impressed
with the principle"
Pending a decision by the bloc.
Senator G0oding would not say
whether a fight for American valu-
alton would be made on the floor.
He said 1t might be difficult to have
the valuation basis changed in the
senate. because OF the great task in
volved in rewriting of all the rates
In the bill.
At their session today the bloc
members. after hearing spokesman
for the Southern Tariff association
decided to support the increased
rates asked for by that association
on peanuts. rice and cppra. The
association also urged that the du-
ties on sugar be advanced from two
cents to 2is cents a pound on full
duty and from / so to cents on
Cuban sugar. but the bloc has vet
to determine whether 1t will support
these increases.
In his statement attacking the
tariff bill which was preliminary to
the minority report on the measure.
Senator Simmons said that even a
cursory examination indicated that II
was the highest tariff bill ever
written. He added that a tariff
more unsuited, to present conditions.
IL we are to participate in world
trade. could not well have been
framed 2
If 1t is adopted" continued Sem
ator Simmons In a formal statement.
we will hardly hear much more
about republican tariff bringing
prosperity. 1t will be at least one re-
publican tariff that will be con-
demned not as bringing prosperity.
but adversely. In many instances
It is excessively higher than the
Payne Aldrich with added provisions
authorizing the President under GER
tain conditions to increase these
tates within limit OF so per cent.
/, $50 far as the so-called protec-
tion accorded agriculture is con-
cerned, only a small fraction of the
duties imposed on agricultural pro-
ducts will be operative. They would
have no effect good or bad The
duties OF a few agricultural products
would result in advance in prices.
The high and excessive duties i'm
posed on manufactured products
would Immediately result in a great
increase in the prices of things that
the farmers buy. but do not produce.
In other words. the result of this So
called protection to agriculture will
be so far as the farmers are con-
cerped,, the swapping of dollars for
dimes.
THE operation of the bill neces-
Sarily, viii penalize our export busi-
ness which win mean in the end cur
tailment of production and increased
unemployment.
Senator simmons and other min
ority members of the committee hope
to present their minority report with
In nine days.