Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-12
SIMMONS SPECIFIES
NINE OUTSTANDING
TARIFF OBJECTIONS
Declares Republican Meas
ure Would Add Billions of
Tax on Consumers.
CHALLENGES PRODUCTION
COST MEASURING ROD
Declares Amendments Were Deter
mined Largely by Appeals
of Benefciaries.
By the Associated Press.

Nine outstanding objections" to the
pending tariff bill were enumerated in
speech in the Senate today by Sena-
tor Simmons of North Carolina, who
opened fire on the Republican measure
for the Democrats by declaring it would
add millions Of dollars to the annual tax
burden imposed upon the consuming
masses.
Aiming his castigation not only at
the administrative and special features
OF the bill but at proposed increased
rates as well, the veteran minority tariff
leader gave the following reasons why
he could not support it:
1T contains many rates and increases
upon agricultural products that are USE
less and ineffective.
1t is replete with eXorbitant rates on
articles which farmers buy.
1t contains numerous instances of
higher rates on articles used by the
masses than on articles of identical use
but purchased principally by persons Of
wealth or OF more than average means.
Lacks HOoVer's Request.
'It does not conform to President
trial products only when there has been
a slacken1ng of employment due TO i'm
ports. In many cases increases have
been granted to industries which have
been very prosperous under the present
tariff act.
1t is full of inconsistencies and un-
fair determinations.
1t increases rates on many articles
even though the imports under the pres
ent tarl1 act have been negligible.
1t encourages inefhciency by many
OF its increases in rates.
ITS excessive increases on many
articles impern our trade with European
countries.
BY its liberalization of the flexible
provisions, enlarging the powers and
discretion of the President, the latitude
diioWed the President in the imposition
OF additional duties is dangerously ex-
panded."
Declaring the amendments to the
present law made by the House and
those proposed by the finance commits
tee majority were not fixed upon a
basis of the difference in cost of pro-
duction here and abroad, but were de-
ternllned largely in response to the
appeals and demands of the benefici-
aries OF the high and excessive rates"
proposed, the North Carolina Senator
challenged the contention of the ma
Jorlty that the cost of production meas
uring rod was no longer practicable
of application.
Stand Is Puzzling.
He said the Democratic platform de-
/ clared for eQualiZing differences in pro-
ductlon costs and nothing more, and
added he could not understand why
the Republicans were so anxious to
scrap" this rule unless tariff commits
sion Investigations had shown that in
! many cases existing rates exceeded
these differences and that there was
need for downward instead of upward
revision of duties.
The new provision proposed in the
bill to determine levies to equaliZe diff
ferenceS in competition. including trans
portation costs to ports of entry. would.
in the Senator's opinion. ''perpetuate
the uncertain and elastic p, inciples and
practices" that have hereto ore and still
prevail in the framing 81 Republican
tariff legislation.
In the determining the .pread between
foreign and domestic p'hduction costs.
ne continued. the comparison should
be made with industrier in this country
that are efficiently aGId economically
managed and not wita industries that
are ineficiently and uneconomically
managed"
The flexible provisions enlarging the
Presidents powers to change import
| duties up or down within limit of so
per cent were declared by the Senator
to be unconstitutional. If adopted. he
said. industries would no longer come
to Congress for tariff relief, but would
carry all their complaints to the Exec
utive and the taritf commission.
Lists Useless Rates.
Under the heading, 1.-THE Uselessness
of Some of the Rates on Agricultural
| Commodities" Simmons listed corn,
mutton, lamb. pork, ham, bacon, REIN
| deer meat, barley, oats, buckwheat, rye.
cereal breakfast foods. spices and spice
seeds, chocolate and cocoa.
Whiting, watches, pocket knives, scis-
| sors. pliers. small arms, fishing tackle,
saws. handkerchiefs, lace, wool wearing
apparel, women's felt hats, leather
| gloves, brushes, pencils and pipes were
enumerated as articles the farmer buys
and on which the bill places "ex-
| orbitant rates"
Under an exhibit entitled "Higher
Rates OH Articles Used by the Masses
Than on Articles Used by Persons of
| Wealth" were listed wool rags, the rate
| on which would be raised from a., cents
to "a cents pound under the bill, and
wool blankets and Oriental rugs.
The higher duty on wool rags, Sim
mons contended. must materially
enhance the price of the cheaper
| wooden fabrics"
With consideration of the 3-year-
old question of seating William S. Ware
as Senator from Tennsylvania post
poned until Decefnber, the tariff bill
Y