Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-19

w DAYS session to debate, the SEN
ate passed on a number of important
committee amendments to the tarlIL
bill. 1t also rejected an amendment by
Mr.. Stone, rstoring the Dingley rates
on raZors. On that vote most OF the
progressive Republicans voted in the
affirmative with the Democrats.
More than two hours were devoted to
a discussion of a resolution by Senator
Gore to investigate the cost OF produc-
tion at home and abroad, and the rela-
tive price of commodities at wholesale
and retail. The resolution was referred
to the committee on finance.
Considerable progress was made in
the adoption of several sections of the
tariff bill that formerly had been
passed over. Several of the amend
ments decreased duties formerly re-
ported by the committee, but some OF
the other amendments adopted in
creased duties.
Senator Cores resolution directing
the committee on finance to conduct
the investigation into wholesale and
retail prices of commodities was dis
cussed before the senate at some
length.
Seeking to have the resolution adopt
ed, Mr. Gore said he wished to have
statements concerning the extortionate
prices of retail dealers fully probed so
that the country might know just
where the responsibility for high prices
rests.
Has No Objection
Senator Aldrich said he had no OBJ
lection to such an investigation being
undertaken. Senator Carter pointed out
that in doing this work the finance
committee would cover the same ground
which the proposed tariff commission
would cover.
That the cotton manufacturers sell
their products with an agreement as
to the prices at which they are to be
sold at retail was the substance of
charge made by Mr.. owen.
Demanding proof of this assertion
Mr.. Gallinger said that what the coun-
try is demanding is prompt action on
the tariff bill. He added that 1T had
been asserted that the business inter
ests of this country were losing $lO,-
600. 900 a day by the holding up of the
tariff bill. Referring to the pledge
of the Republican party to make the
tariff rates equal to deficit in cost or
production, Mr.. Owen said 1t was tne
duty of the majority to inform the SEN
ate as TO what that difference was.
Suggesting a select committee to OBJ
tain information desired by the senator
from Oklahoma, Mr.. Bailey said he
did not wish to make any charge
against the Republican members of the
committee on finance, as the committee
adopted rule that the Democratic
members might employ all the experts
they wanted.
Bad at the Best
"They." said Mr.. Bailey, ARE bad
enough at best and I am not willing to
charge them with being more than they
are"
At times provoking much merriment
by his ready retort, and denouncing
the protective tariff policy, Mr. Gore
smoke at length Before the tariff bill
was taken up, in response to an appeal
from Mr.. Bailey, the senate agreed to
vote on Mr. Cores resolution, amended
as suggested by Mr.. Bailey so as to
refer the appointment of select COM
mittee of four Republican and three
Democratic senators to conduct the In
vestigation asked for, and by vote
of so to 29 it was referred to the finance
committee. Senators Bristow, Crawford
and LaFollette voting no with the
Democrats.
When the tariff bill was taken up
Mr.. Stone spoke at length in favor of
his amendments to regulate the duties
prescribed by the bill on razors to the
rates of the present Dingley law.
The Republicans voting in the mega
tive with the Deplocrats on Mr.. Stones
amendments wele Beveridge, Bristow,
Brown Clapp, Crawford, Cummins,
Gamble, LaFollette and Nelson.
On an amendment offered by Mr.. Ba-
con reducing the rates on the section
relating to knives, razorS, scissors, etc,
below the rates of the Dingley bill.
nearly all the Republicans who had
voted in favor of reduction to the level
of the Dingley rates voted no. the
amendment being rejected, 2S to 81,
Senators Clapp and LaFollette alone
of the Republicans voting with the
Democrats
Other Articles Reduced
On table and butcher knives, etc, the
committee had reduced the rates of the
Dingley law about, 80 per cent, and
Mr. Bacon sought by amendment still
further TO reduce them. which secured
no support from low tariff Republicans,
being rejected by vote of % to 5S.
The committee had increased the
duty on needles to $1.25 per 1000, and
% per cent ad valorem which Mr.. Gal
linger declared was so low that foreign
needles were driving the American arti-
Gle out of the market. The paragraph
was adopted.
An increase of 5 per cent on the
house duty on steel plates. and in
creases on wooden screws of various
sizes were adopted.
The adoption of committee amend
ments without aye and nay votes be-
ing called for, the bill proceeded rap
idly in reading until the section relat-
ing to umbrella and parasol ribs and
stretchers was reached, and then Mr..
Dolliver objected to any increase. The
committee rates were sustained.
That there will be a sharp contest
in the senate over the proposition to
refer to the judiciary committee the
amendment to the tariff bill introduced
by Senator Bailey providing for an
income tax, is indicated by coalition
of the Democrats and some of the pro
gressive" Republicans, which became
known today.
The vote will be close. probably the
closest that will occur in the making
of the tariff bill.
The Democratic strength is thirty
one votes. all pledged to support the
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