THE TARIFF: Bobwhite Quail

Senator Caraway and other Democrats are inclined to laugh at items on the Republican tariff schedules. Another object of their laughter has been the flexible tariff (the clause in the Tariff Act whereby the President is authorized on recommendation by the Tariff Commission to increase or decrease specific tariffs by not more than 50%, so, as to equalize cost of production between the U. S. and principal competing countries). They point out that the President has increased the duty on certain grains and various minor products; that in spite of the Tariff Commission’s recommendation, the President has declined to lower the duty on sugar.

The Democrats say: “The flexible tariff is flexible, but only in one direction—up. President Coolidge has never lowered the tariff on a single item.”

But last week they were startled and then they began to laugh again. He had lowered a tariff. He had lowered the duty on live bobwhite quail valued at less than $5.00 a head, from 50 to 25c each. The duty was lowered at the request of the game wardens of several states. There was practically no opposition. It was claimed that the duty of 50c was more than the difference between the cost of producing live bobwhites in the U. S. and in the principal competing country,— Mexico.

When the question of the tariff comes up again, the strange melodious call of the bobwhite is sure to be heard in the Senate, followed by a mocking echo of Democratic laughter.

There was another element in Mr. Coolidge’s tariff pronouncements last week,—probably of more interest to the country. The President announced his refusal, in spite of a recommendation by the Tariff Commission, to raise the duty on cotton-warp knit-fabric gloves. Before the War these gloves were always made in Germany. When the War came and cut off the German supply, the industry sprang up in this country. More recently the German competition sprang into existence again and began to undersell the U. S. commodity. In 1922 in the Fordney-McCumber Act, the duty on these gloves was raised so that it ranges from 63% to 75%, at which it remains. None the less, U. S. factories have been compelled to shut down by German competition.

In spite of this situation, Mr. Coolidge refused to increase the duty on these gloves. His reason: It would increase the price of moderate-value cotton gloves from about $1.00 to $1.50, increasing the cost of living.

Republican chorus: “The President thinks of the Common People.”

Democratic chorus: “Why didn’t he lower the tariff on gloves? This only shows how much the tariff costs the Common People. And the President knows it! He knows it!”