Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-14
GARNER

Continued From Page One)
REIMBURSEMENT" OF the tariff, and
Speaker Longworth has joined
them in suggesting that as few
changes be made as possible"
Oppose General Revision
All of these statements mean
nothing until they are translated
into the various provisions of the
bill. They can mean anything as
they are general in term, but it in
dicates opposition to a general re-
vision of the tariff.
The democratic members OF che
house have had no conference on
the subject Of the tariff, therefore,
I cannot speak for them as an or
ganization. but speaking for my
self and, I think, a goodly portion
of the democratic membership OF
the house, we would be pleased in
deed to have an opportunity for a
general revision OF the present tar
if law. That Is to say, an oppor-
tunity to examine each schedule,
and each paragraph with a view of
applying such rates that would give
fair and adequate protection 70
American labor and to the various
industries Of the country.
We believe that many of the rates
in the present law are prohibitory
and that the same should be lower
ed. We also believe that many Of
the rates carried in the present law,
especially those rates applicable to
agricultural products, should be
materially increased, and some Of
the items upon the free list under
the provisions Of the present law
should be transferred to the dut-
ible list.
Against ~Chinese WalP'
That brings me to say that the
democratic position on the tariff
question is not one of free trade.
neither are we in favor Of an en-
barge, Chinese wall, prohibitory
tariff.
Some Of our republican friends
have consistently represented that
the democratic party was a free
trade party. I want to most en-
phatically deny that. The demo-
cratic party believes In the main
tenance of a good wage scale that
will enable American labor to
maintain its present, and even a
better, standard Of living. A wage
scale where they can not only have
proper housing. food and clothing,
but a wage scale that they may
nave an opportunity to educate
their children and give them rea-
Sonable opportunities in life.
Therefore, neither labor nor the
bushes world need fear the action
of the democratic party in the en-
actment Of a tariff law. We would
not discriminate, as the present
law does, against sections and in
dustrles, but would treat them all
with as near exact fairness as il il
humanity possible to do. No in
dustry should be Disseminated
against In applying the economic
principles Of the tariff. Every sec
tlon OF the country and its pro-
ducts should be treated with the
same consideration. This Is br,t
simple justice, SIS well as a SOUND
economic policy.
Present Law Hits Farmers
The very fact that congress Is
now considering the revision of the
tarlIf Is confirmation Of the fact
ina the present law does not meet
conditions Of today. I think II Il
agreed by all that the present law
IN Its 1ncipiency grossly discrini-
mates against agriculture, and that
one OF the economic causes for the
condition Of agriculture during the
cast eight years has been the want
q sufficient protection OF certain
CT itS products, and the high prices
toe farmers have had to nav for
the overly protected manufactures
products. Both parties in the last
election promised to remedy this
situation and the democrats stand
ready to fulfill that promise.
NOW the second problem can be
discussed In a few sentences. that
j. 70 say what basis of yail,atior
you should apply to the rates ~
tne proposed bill. Shall il ,e tia
invoice price SIS at present, or shall
We change it to American" aJJnit-
ca states, domestic valuation" All
u enese terms meaning more or
Isss the same. and they mean in
terpreted into results, with 49,
ptessnt rates applied to such values
woulo become prohibitory, and vor,
might as well enact an emh.roa
against importations, except thoss
things left on the free list Re-
sldes it Is quite impossible to al
lIu1lseer such . law, even If tha
rates were fixed to apply to u,ch
citations because no three men
arrive at the same conclusion
d 70 what are American. Unjtad
states or domestic values. as the
Ease may De. It is very much like
the war excess profits tax, where in
theory IL was lust and en1itahJa