The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-04-26
POLITICS IN
RELIEF BILL
|FreeSteelC auseSPanic Among
Standpatters
FEAR TO OPPOSE II
The Democrats Make 1t Vehicle for
Revision They Will Propose That
1t Be Not Restricted to
California.

Washington, April 26.--1he San
Francisco relief proposition launched
| through the Madden and Gaines resolu-
! tions, has taken on serious political as
poets, and has put the Republican Lend
ers in d bad state of mind. The simple
resolution introduced BY Representative
Madden Of Illinois, removing the duty
on structural steel for the benefit Of
the California sufferers has thrown the
strndpatters into a panic
The Democrats realize that the Re-
publicans are hardly in position to
oppose this humanitarian proposition,
consequently they intend TIA have it
hroadened into genEal tariff revision
order. The resolution has been referred
TO the committee on ways and means
and will probably he brought up at
today's meeting, john Sharp Williams
said yesterday that he would move 10
have the resolution amended 50 that
| free steel will not be restricted to Cali
| fnrnia, but may be imported for all
cities in the United States. Represen-
tatipe Underwood, who represents the
Birmingham, Ala, district, where steel
firms are doing 4 large business, says
that he will offer an amendment that
/ all kinds OF building material intended
for the upbliilding OF the stricken sec
ton shall be admitted to the coun.
1 try free OF duty
The staud-pattefs are visibly alarm
ed at the prospect Of sudden tariff leg.
| islation. Representative Dalgeli OF
Pennsylvania, the chief champion Of
the steel industry on the ways and
means committee, when asked when the
| Madden resolution would BE- passed, rel
piled with some show Of annoyance !.
81 am sure ! don't know. There is
mo hurry. The committee may decide
to give some hearings first
Speaker Cannon and other stand pat
4 tiers are trying 10 have the California
representatives and senators declare
| that there is no need for legislation
of this sort Representative Needham of
California said this afternoon that SEN
ators Perkins and Flint OF his state
were not anxious ID have free steel
for the devastated districts. The lead.
ers Of the House viii doubtless resort
to 4 special rule for the Madden bill,
In order to shut oil Objectionable amend.
mefts. There is some hesitancy about
bringing in rule on such n bill but
they may be forced to il in order Ia
avoid putting the party on record on
the amendments the opponents of the
protective tariff win offer il the oppor,
tunitv be given them.
In the Senate anything II possible,
and any amendment concerning the tar.
if would be gerinsne The only ques-
tlon there is, whether any senator would
care to make charity tariff bill OF
this sort Of vehicle in which to carry
a tgrif fight into the Senate. II It
should be done and the bill comes back
to tie House amended. the House would
be compelled to 90 on record on such
amendments,
There is abundant precedent for ac-
ton favorable 10 q removal Of duty
on structural steel ana other building
materials for the benefit of the Pacific
coast cities. Similar action WAS taken
1T the time Of the great fire in Chi.
cage; but since that day steel has be-
come a vastly more important product in
! building than in the construction OF
! that period The steel mills of the
United States ARE reported 10 be behind
in their orders and unable TO keep pace
with the demands made upon them.
The amount Of structural steel re-
l'dnired when San Francisco begins 70
rebuild herself will be enormous. Learn
ing the lessons taught by the earth
quake, nothing but steel construction
will be employed in the new buildings
81 the modern metropolis at the Golden
Gate, and il win be an impossibility for
the steel mills of this country to sup.
ply the material for which the build.
ers viii be asked during the next two
| wears