San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-02
PLAN FIGHT
: ON FORDNEY
TARIFF LAW
Democrats and Insurgents
Seek Reduction in Ger
tain Rates.
BILL is DISCUSSED
Conferences Held to Con-
slider Character of Meas
ure to Propose.

Washington. ID. O., March L.
Flushed with their victory in the reve-
rue legislation the coalition of Demo
Gratis and Progressive Republicans is
planning an assault on the Fordney
tariff law. No final decision has been
reached as to the extent of the raid
but il is practically certain that ii
will include sugar and a marked re-
duction in the rates on other articles
directly affecting the cost of living.
The disturbing factor, and the one
on which no agreement has been
reached, is. to be found in the ques-
tion of whether there shall be made
an effort to reduce rates on farm
products, wheat, meat, hides and wool.
A large wing of the Democratic party
is determined on this, if any revision
of the tariff is attempted, while the
Progressives, for the most part, are
equally determined existing rates on
imports of these commodities shall not
be reduced. They hold to the theory
that these rates are too low now and.
If modified in any way, should be In
creased.
Would Be Issue in Fall.
II In known that there have been
several informal conferences between
Democratic and Progressive leaders
in the House TO consider the charac-
ter of the bill or bills they will spon-
sor and TO learn whether fight predi-
Gated on this measure could command
sufficient votes to pass the House.
That is the chief end sought for. it
is recognized President Coolidge IN
doubtedly will veto any tariff redu,-
ton legislation submitted to him by
Congress at this session. 1t is urged.
however. that the passage Of q lower
tariff bill by the House, even IL it
were hung up in the Senate, woull
serve to focus the attention of the
country on this problem and serve to
make it an additional issue IN the
election in the fall.
The situation, it is pointed out, is
almost identical with that which ex-
listed in 1911. The Democrats had
won control Of the House and pro-
eeeded to pass a number of so-called
pop up" tariff bills. Although the
Republicans still controlled the Sell
ate their leadership was weak and
these bills passed that body as well,
being sent to President Taft, who
promptly vetoed them. That made
the tariff one of the outstanding is
sues in the 1912 election and in 1913
the Democrats, having won complete
control OF the government, passed the
Underwood tariff law.
Will Embarrass Rspnblicans
In all events the existing tariff law
bids fair to prove an embarrassment
to the Republicans in the approaching
election. The latest indication of this
is to be found in the protests winch
have developed over President Cool
idges instructions to the tariff COM
mission TO submit recommendations
under the flexible tariff provision,
relative to schedules on vegetable oils.
This is said to have been done at the
instance of Secretary Slemp and to
have been engineered through him bv
the big soap manufacturers. 1t fol-
lowed visit made to the White
House by Colonel Proctor Of Cincin-
natl. "angel" of Major General Wood
1920.
When the announcement was made
the assumption was that the chief
howl would come from the cotton seed
crushers and the peanut producers.
both of whom are largely confined 20
The South and presumably of little
potential value to the Republicans. 1t
has develoDed. however. that the or
ganized dairy interests of the country
will be seriously affected IL there is n
reduction in the vegetable oil sched-
nles. Their protests. pouring into the
White House and tariff commission,
have put a different face on the sit
nation for their strength is potent in
strong Republican and pivotal states
such as Ohio. Michigan. New York.
Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin,