The Washington herald., 1909-04-04
Purpose to Fight Effort to
Cut Off Debate.
WOULD RECOMMIr MEASURE
IL They Succeed in This ERdeavOr
They VIII BE Given More Time and
Opportunity 10 Contest Action Of
the Republican Members-ExPect
10 Get in Their Amendments.


will be able to put through their rule and
cut or all amendments except those Of
-fered by the Ways and Means Committee
and approved chiefly by the Republican
members of that body. the Democrats
are oontending the rule will never be
adopted unless they are given fair play"
The Republicans now admit they are
going 10 try to prevent the Democrats
from amending the bill. and this state
ment yesterday caused many OF the MEN,
bers of the minority 10 boil over with
fury
II had been said there would be plenty
OF time Tor discussion under the five
minute rule. and that then the Demo-
Gratis could get in whatever amendments
they desired. But yesterday and the day
before brought announcements Of changes
from the Republican camp. and these
put an entirely different look on things.
Would Cut on Debate.
The rule Will be presented at the OMEN
ing Of the House tomorrow 20 cut Of
debate and set time for the final vote.
II is regarded as certain the vote VIII
be taken Saturday. This, the Democrats
say viii not be enough time. and now
they have decided on concerted action.
First. they Will offer resolution 10 re-
commit the bill, II this action is sue
cessful, the chief benefit 10 the Demo
Gratis will be 10 give them more time
IL viii also allow them time and oppor-
tcnity 70 fight with the Republican mem
1 bers Of the committee for changes they
/ advocate. II they are successful In this.
they Will then offer amendments 10 re-
duce all the schedules Of the bill 70
revenue basis
IL viii be their plan. also. 70 knock
out the oOuntervaling duty on petro-
leum. and on this they have determined
20 put up a bitter fight. II was also
decided 20 fight the countervaiIing duties
on coffee and lumber. but the commit
tee relieved them Of this step by striking
those provisions from the bin.
The minimum and maximum provisions
Will also be enc Of the chief points OF
attack for the Democrats. Their amend
ment viii attempt 10 make the minimum
rates provided IN the Payne schedules
the maximum rates OF the law. and then
allow the minimum rates 10 be deter
mined by the President
Reduced Rates of Duty.
In this case the Chief Executive would
grant reduced rates OF duty TO coun-
tries fayoring American goods.
Representative Tawney. Of Minnesota.
chief lieutenant Of the Speaker. so far as
the tariff bill is concerned was in a pessi-
mistic mood last night.
Il have telegraphed 70 Minnesota to
I have my summer clothes shipped by ex-
press TO Washington"
1 A.
his opinion that the tariff bill would not
/ become law until late in the summer.
The situation is disconcerting" re-
marked Mr.. Tawney. 1T is conservative
~ estimated that every day OF delay in
the enactment Of the tariff bill into law
costs the people Of the United States at
least Sl0.O0o0O. And yet we are unable 10
reach an agreement. To my mind. il is
not OF primary Importance just what the
rates in particular schedules may be.
Combination Il Formed.
All was going well with the tariff bin in
the House until the formation yesterday
OF a combination that has for its purpose
the enforcement Of demands upon the
Committee on Ways and Means which
that committee may be unable 10 grant.
This combination is made Up OF approx
mately forty Republicans. who attach
their signatures 10 a statement addressed
TO the Committee on Ways and Means.
They demand:
First-That duty Of 45 cents be i'm
posed on bitdminous coal This product
is admitted free in the Payne bill
Second-That hides De assessed at the
rate of 70 per cent ad valorem The
Payne bill admits hides free.
Third-That the Payne rates on lumber
be enacted into law. The Payne bin pro-
vides a duty Of 81 a thousand feet on
rough lumber, and duties ranging from 30
cents to $3.50 on other lumber and wood
products
Fourth-That a rate Of $3 a ton be i'm
posed on pig iron and scrap iron.
The high protection revolters held an
extended conference yesterday afternoon.
There were twenty-six Republicans in at
| tendance. including Representatives Cush-
man, of Washington; Fordney. OF MIchi-
gan. and Gaines. OF West Virginia. The
States represented by the revolters are
West Virginia. Washington. Utah, Wy
oming. Ohio. Kentacky, North Carolina,
Michigan, and Iowa. Representative
Hughes. CT West Virginia. inspired by
Senator's Elkins and Scott. OF that SIate.
who were largely responsible for this
latest insurgent movement, presided
It has been known in the House for sew
eral days that the Committee on Ways
and Means would agree TO a separate
vote on the iumbe. schedule. This struck
| terror to the hearts of the men who at
tended the conference Of the boilers. They
( feared a vote on this schedule meant Tree
! lumber so far as the House was con-
cerned and their demands have been
/ framed with view 10 trading on this
and other provisions OF the Payne bill. ~
They are particularly insistent that a
duty shall be laid on bituminOus coal.
and their position in this regard is pro-
voked largely by a desire to get even
with New England which is favored in
| the Payne bill, by the admission Of many
raw materials free of duty. The situa-
/ ton in the House is that high protection
/ Republicans want duty imposed on hides,
coal and other products which the Payne
bill proposes 20 admit free. New Eng
land and other sections Of the country
! insist that hides and coal and other raw
materials shall be admitted 20 American
ports duty free.
The Middle West and Northwest are 5or
! free lumber and unless the representa-
tives from those sections get free lumber
they may oppose the Payne bill TO the
limit
Significant Development.
A significant development yesterday was
the presence in the meeting at which the
address 10 the Committee on Ways and
Means was framed. of three members Of
that organization. These were Cushman
Gaines, and Fordney. Cushmsn and
Fordney are bitterly hostile TO the pro-
posal that lumber shall be admitted free
Cushman comes from Washington where
the lumber industry is hOurishing, and
demands high protective rates on The