Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-10
HARDING NOT LIKELY
To REVISE TARIFF
ON PEANUT OILS

0bW h~ah ~
WASHINGTON, May S.-Presi-
dent Harding told a delegation from
the south which protested to him
today against revision of the vege-
table oil schedule Of the Fordney-
McCumber tariff act, that in acting
under the flexible provision OF the
tariff law he would modify rates
"only on the most striking evidence
of the necessity for such change
in rates.
II can tell you surely" the presi-
dent saSA to the delegation, that
the president would proclaim no re-
duction of the tariff unless there
were very pronounced reasons for
It."
In replying to the protest filed by
the delegation, which was headed by
Governor-elect Walker, of Georgia
and Governor Mcleod, of South
Carolina, the president explained MS
view of the flexible provision of the
tariff law, which was enacted by
congress largely at the inslstance OF
the executive. The provision, the
president said, is designed Ito pro-
tect the American consumer against
inordinate charges as well as the
American producer against unfair
competition
Referring to the specific point in
the protest made by the Delegation
that of the docketing by the tarltf
commission of a complaint against
the vegetable oil schedule-the pres
tdent said it was impossible to deny
the filing of petitions for moditica-
ton, but that before action was
taken the tariff commission was re-
uuired to make preliminary survey
to determine whether the facts Justi-
fled recommending a hearing on the
question.
"You cannot forbid surveys" he
said. eff you undertook to do that'
you would make the provision of a
flexible tariff q dead letter. But
have cautioned the commission tnat
the government does not mean TO
throw monkey wrench into the ma
chinery' at a time when We are all
trying to recover fully from lndus'
trial and AGRICULTURAL depression"
GEORGIANS PRESENT STRONG
PLEA FOR PEANUT FARMERS
Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
BY THEODORE FILLER
WASHINGTON, May S.-Repre-
senting the peanut growers OF Nhe
south, a delegation of producers ana
public officials, including Governor
elect Walker, J. J. Brown, commls-
eioner of agriculture, and l.. b.
jackson, director of the bureau OF
markets, of Georgia, Monday at
noon filed with President Harding
n protest against a disturbance OF
the existing tariff duties on vege-
table oils.
John H. Kirby, of Texas, president
of the Southern Tariff association,
made the principal argument before
President Harding and Informed the
executive that if the tariff commits
sion re-opens the vegetable oil SEIZED
ules, it will discourage thousands CT
peanut growers in the south. A dis
turbance of the present tariff, he
said, would let in cheap foreign oils
and bring heavy lossse to the peanut
producers who have depended upon
the protective duties carried in the
present tariff law.
Would Disturb Plans
The tariff commission has pending
applications for re-opening the pea
nut schedule and reduction of the
duty under the flexible clause which
2 gives the president, power to raise
or lower tariff rates on recommends.
ton of the commission. Mr.. Kirby
and his colleagues told President
Harding that even the docketing of
the vegetable oil schedule for
hearing at this time would seriously
disturb agricultural plans in the
south and he asserted there was
neither public demand or national
need for such hearing.
Governor-elect Walker, Commits
sioner Brown and Mr.. Jackson are
deeply interested in the situation
confronting the peanut growers Of
Georgia and came to Washington
expressly to back up the pleas that
the president instruct the tariff com.
mission not to disturb the tariff du-
Tt would be most unfortunate, :"
said Mr.. Kirby, as spokesman, "to
take from peanut growers. of the
south, or from farmers engaged in
other agricultural lines, any de-
gree of the assurance the tariff bill
gave to them that they would not
have to sell what they raise in COM
petition with similar products from
the Orient and other countries of
cheap labor.
''The business interests of the
south can best be served by leav-
ing the present tariff schedules as
they are. They have put activity
into every worthy enterprise; they
have taken up the slack in the labor
surplus with consequent oppor-
tunity for our toilers, and they
have set security about our great
agricultural and pastoral industries.
Blow at Industry
ITO reopen the vegetable oil
schedule for readjustment would be
to create unwholesome uncertainty
which would act disastrously upon
southern farmers. To injure a basic
Industry like agriculture means to
reach out and strike like blow to
all other industries.
II cannot conceive of anything
that would be more hurtful at this