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Show SENATE AND HOUSE ROW OVER TARIFF FORDNEY WARNS UPPER HOUSE MEMBERS HE WILL FIGHT; MAY BLOCK BILL Members of House and Senate Unable to Agree on Valuation Policy In Re-Writing So-Called Permanent Per-manent Tariff Bill Washington A row between the house and senate over American valuation valu-ation waa forecast Saturday after it became known that Republican members mem-bers of the senate finance committee. In rewriting the so-called permanent tariff bill, had agreed tentatively on continuing the present principle of basing duties on foreign market value. Chairman Fordney, of the house ways end means committee, declared that if this kind of a tariff must be passed by the senate the house would write a new bill with a reduction valuation valu-ation clause and "let the senate try again." If this should happen, it was said, there would be little prospect of a tariff bill at this session unless congress con-gress remained on the job throughout most of the congressional election campaign. Declaring that the house ways and means committee had written a bill on the American valuation, plan only after af-ter full agreement with all of the Republican Re-publican members of the senate committee com-mittee except Senator La Follette of Wisconsin, Representatice Fordney said the abandonment of this principle by the senate committee majority was "a thing the gentlemen of the ways and means committee would not have done without consulting the finance committee." "If they Bend n bill over here based on foreign valutitton," be added, "they may expect that It will be sent to tho ways and means committee, which will send back to the senate a bill also al-so based on Amerlain valuation. "I will never agree to any foreign valuation and I do not know of any Republican member of the house who will, or who wants foreign valuation" The valuation as framed In the house bill, was abandoned some time ago by majority members of the senate sen-ate committee, who had been considering consider-ing two plans, based largely on tho recommendation of President Harding In his annual message to cong-rem last December The executive thon said regarding American valuation that there could not be Ignored "the danger of such valuation" ranking American tariffs prohibitive. In the light of the president's position It was suggested that If the house and the senate disagreed on the valuation question the matter might be referred to the exocutlve In an effort to bring about an agreement before such nn impasse as that suggested by Mr. Fordney would be brought about. The senate committee majority began be-gan Saturday tho rewriting mf tho ad valorem rates In the Fordney bill on the basis of foreign valuation. Senators Sen-ators said that many of the rates were being scaled upwards since the original orig-inal figures were predicted upon an assessment of duties on the baBls of tho value of articles produced In this country, comparable to those Imported. Import-ed. Tho valuation plan as tentatively agreed ujxin, known iib tho Smoot plan, carries provlalonfl designed to meet unusual conditions now existing In world trade These provisions Include In-clude proclaimed American valuation; flexible rates within a radius of fifty per cont of the figures fixed In the Mil and a depreciated currency provision. pro-vision. There also are sections designed de-signed to prevent unfair competition In Importation and discrimination against American foreign commerce. It was said Saturday that a final veto on the Smoot plan was being delayed de-layed pending further Information from tlio state department as to whothor the depreciated currency provisions pro-visions wliuld bo in violation of the "favored nation" clauses of existing comerclal treaties. Thero Is some doubt in tho committee now on that pcoro and this provision may have to be modified. Under tho other valuation plan which tho committee members bavo been considering for (mo weeks, duties would have been based Uin the wholesale sidling price In tho American Ameri-can markets of the Imported artlclen This plan also contemplated the bolstering bol-stering provisions In the Smoot amendments. H was urged by members mem-bers of tho tariff commlHslnn and the court of customs appeals, but was opposed op-posed by officials of tho customs division divi-sion of tho treasury, who held out for tho Smoot plan. |
