Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-13
HARRISON SCORES
TARIFF AS DEATH
TO EXPORT TRADE
Mississippian Denounces Bin
in Attack as Astounding
in Deception.

The Democratic attack on the pend
ing tariff bill was continued in the
Senate today, with Senator Pat Har-
riSon of Mississippi, delivering q Scath-
ing criticism of the bill.
In the art of discrimination" said
Senator Harrison, the proposal is a
masterpiece. The forked tongue Of
hypocrisy Kisses through every para
graph. From title to citation clause de-
ception abounds."
Senator Harrison said that the title
of the bill should read, An Act TO De-
,troy Revenue, to Stifle Commerce with
Foreign Countries. to Discourage In
dustries of the United States. to Finn
Flam American Labor and to Fleece the
American Farmer"
Says Few Would Be Aided.
when We consider" continued Sen
ator Harrison. 1.-The small proportion OF
labor that could possibly receive any
benefits from this legislation, and the
millions engaged in labor who are dis
eliminated against in the legislation,
We can appreciate its injustices and
inequalities. Only one-tenth of our pop
ulation is engaged in manufacturing and
mechanical industries. and of that one
tenth only a small percentage receives
anv benefits from the protective tariff.
THE increased burden proposed in
this legislation falls heaviest upon that
army of men and women engaged. in
labor in those industries and institu-
tions. the cost and operation of which
will be increased through the increased
duties carried in the bill
Take the employees in our great trans
portation system. in our automobile in
dustry. and those in numerous other
industries that dominate our domestic
market and supply the world trade. This
tariff bill injuriously will affect them.
Under the last census. the average of
wages for labor. compared to the value
of materials in all out manufacturing
industries. was % per cent. In the boot
and shoe industry. the output of which
was on the free list, the percentage of
wages to materials was SO per cent. In
the manufacture of agricultural imple-
ments. which were on the free list. the
percentage of wages to materials was
45 per cent. And. in manufacture of
typewriters. which were on the free list
it was 68 per cent.
r. S. Labor Is Favored.
"The fact disproved the sta ..Ic.S.-:t
that the wages are higher in the pro-
tective industries. Only when the
amount of wages paid is divided by the
amount of product of the employe is
a comparative labor cost furnished"
Senator Harr'con said H1at when the
production of American labor is COM
pared in wages to the production OF
labor of any other country, 1t Is most
favorable to American labor. The out
mt Of the Belgian worker. he said. is
'as's< bout 16 per cent of the United
States worker. while the Belgian worker
is paid 80 per cent of the amount paid
the American worker. In the United
States one man per- year will produce
n tons of steel. while in Great Britain
one man per year will produce only Is
tons.
"The United States,' said Senator
Harrison. ranks first as a natural store
house of raw materials. 1t is not the
tariff but our large natural resources
which explain our high wages. II 1t
were different. If the tariff deserved the
credit that its friends proclaim, then
today Italy, France, Japan, Germany
and Russia equally would enjoy higher
wages because of their tariff. But, their
low wages are given as the justif1cation
of our high duties"
The manner in which the tariff bill
had been handled by Republican men,
bers of the finance committee was the
subject of criticism by Senator Harrison.
He said that Senators Reed of Penn
sylvania and Edge of New Jersey had
been placed in charge Of the steel and
earthenware schedules, both represent
ing States in which those industries
largely are located. He pointed out that
Senator Bingham of Connecticut had
been in charge of the wooIen and cotton
rates, and that Senator Smoot of Utah
had grabbed the sugar schedule. in
which he has long been vitally inter-
ested"
1T was the worst conspiracy" said
Senator Harrison, that was ever con-
cocted in the legislative annuls of this
Continued on Page 2, Column So