The Washington herald., 1909-03-30

The split In the Republican ranks over
the Payne tariff bill. which several days
ago was characterized as weak
kneed' by the House organization. now
has assumed alarming proportions. and
the floor leaders are wondering II they
will be able to carry out the programme
they have outlined for the new measure
1t was said yesterday that sixty Re
publicans have allied themselves with
the forces opposing a rule to cut on de-
bate and amendments, and the insurgents
assert that they Will have Other. votes
when the time comes. They contend
that they must have the opportunity 70
discuss all the provisions Of the bill
and offer as many amendments as they
desire. and declare they have force
enough to carry out their demands.
The Democrats. Of course, are going
TO vote against the rule almost as
body. and If these insurgents hold their
ground. it is believed they can AT least
force the House Organization into a IA
vorable compromise.
A meeting of the insurgents probably
will be held tomorrow. and then an an
nouncement viii be made as 10 their
plans The Democrats. too. viii meet
and outline their plans Of contest.
Expect Vote on April 10.
II is thought the Republican leaders
viii bring in their rule about Thursday.
placing the bin under the five-minute
rule. and setting a date upon which to
vote on the entire bill All the Repub-
ucan members of the House yesterday
were requested to be in their seats on
Thursday morning. april 10 is the date
generally accepted upon which the vote
Will be taken, although the members Of
the Ways and Means Committee and the
other Republican leaders decline 10 give
out any Information further than 10
say no decision has been reached. IL
is known, however. that this date is re-
garded as the most favorabis by several
members Of the committee. and they be
heve it viii be agreed upon finally.
The Democrats insist this will not give
them enough time 10 amend the bill as
time extended at least a week
The action OF the Ways and Means
Committee in wanting TO handle all the
amendments to the bill is bringing more
and more protest from the Democratic
ranks, and IL is not az all unlikely that
this contention will be the cause OF the
widening OF the gulf between the two
factions. The Democrats declare they
cannot get through the amendments they
desire II Il is left in the hands Of the
committee that drafted the bill and they
say such treatment is not fair and should
not be insisted upon. They admit that
number of amendments could be put
through in this manner, yet they say the
more important ones would not be given
proper consideration, and even II intro
duced by the committee would be han
died in such a way as 10 insure their
defeat. Therefore they are paying little
attention 10 the committee amendments
and are going 10 rely almost entirely on
the individual members TO amend the bill.
Il has been the announced plan OF the
Democrats all along 10 offer a great many
amendments TO the bill. which would. in
a way, have the same affect as introduc-
ing a new measure. II they are not al
lowed 10 do this. their purpose viii be
defeated.
VIII Fight for Free Lumber.
A: the Representatives who favor free
lumber insist that they must be given a
fai- opportunity 70 amend that section OF
the bill While the House organization
says II wants separate vote on this
question. the opposition SAYS this IS ex-
actly what II wants. and declares that If
separate vote is taken the duty will be
removed. The members who are most IN
favor of the conservation of the natural
resources Of the country are leaders In
the movement for free lumber, and they
contend that this is the one best way 10
save the forests
Il has been pointed out time and again
that II the duty IS removed from lumber
the Canadian lumber merchants will make
a grand rush 20 the United States mar
kets, and In that way the forests Of the
country viii be saved. as Canada can
then sell at about the same prices as
home industries.
The conservation men also point out
that while Canada Is cutting her forests
10 meet the demands OF the market IN
the United States, the home forests will
be given a chance to grow. and in few
years will be in condition TO allow free
cutting again. By the time the Canadians
have cut a gOOd-slzed hole into their
forests. the United States merchants can
then re-eater the market vigorously, and
produce lumber on the same high plane
which once marked the enterprise in this
country.
Count on Taft's Assistance.
The announcement OF the President yes
terday in favor Of low duty on all neces-
sites OF life was heard with approval by
the Democrats IN the House. II IS be-
lieved that with his assistance many OF
the schedules in the Payne bill can be
reduced
Representative Hinshaw. Of Nebraska.
one OF the few Republican survivors In
the House from that State was at the
White House yesterday and had long
talk with the Chief Executive. He said
il was the desire Of the President TO
have the duties taken of Of as MANY ne
cessities Of life as possible, and to reduce
others 20 the lowest practicable point.