The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-16
Paragraph Relating to Steel
Rails Is Passed Without
a Murmur
.ALDRICH CLAIMS ONLY A
FEW INCREASES IN DUTY
Senator Root Fails to Make Speech
and Newspaper Men Wondered
How He Felt After His
Tilt With Money.

Washington, May -(Speeial.)-M
progress was made in the senate today on
the tariff bill than any other since the
House bill was reported Strangely
enough the paragraph relating to steel
rails was passed without a murmer from
either side, whereas most persons in
Washington had imagined that the real
fight of all fights would be made when
! that schedule was reached.
Barbed wire was cut almost in twain.
This cut is said to have been the induce
ment that brought Burkett. of Nebraska.
over to the regulars. Nebraska uses as
much barbed wire as any state with the
exception of Texas Burkett had ths
fight of his life ON hand to secure a re-
election. TO have barbed wire reduced
in cost Will furnish him an excellent
| campaign document. lie has it. And now
he has quit the revolutionists.
Nor is Mr.. Aldrleh through with the
other rebels. One by one he is placating
| them.
| Sheet iron and its kindred articles was
passed as the finance committee recon-
mended. So We're steel ingots. blooms,
slabs, mill shafting and the like. Jointed
iron and steel tubes and wire gauge car
ry duty OF ] cent a pound
Few Increases Made.
| Mr. Aldrich announced that there had
been but one or two increases over the
Dngley bill while there had been sew
eral times as many revisions or reduce
items.
For which even we democrats are
thankful, answered Bailey, from Texas
When the schedule ON knives and razors
was reached Senator clapp offered a
| resolution demanding when one of these
articles came from abroad the fact
should be stamped upon the blade That
sas to let the consumer know what he
was patronizing. Senator Lodge said he
was in favor of the plan. but the demo-
cratic side objected
Simmons, of North Carolina objected
| to the schedule. He wanted the tariff on
razors reduced. They cost too mueh
| Whiskers are growing on many faces
that, were razors cheaper, would be
swept out in the yard.
This bin suggested Smith of Michl-
gan. is intended to raise tax. 1t will
| help the treasury
But we want more fazorS and bet
ter ones. replied Simmons
For domestic or social purposes?'' in
| quired Smith
The laughter following was loud and
lasted long that simmons was visibiy
| embarrassed.
Department Stores Trust.
Senator Flint again referred today 10
| the alleged fact that there was combin-
| alton existing between the department.
| stores Of tnis country by which prices
were fixed and the consumer made to
suffer Senator Gore the blind member
| from Oklahoma. introduced a resolution
asking that an investigation into the
| methods of jobbers and retailers be un-
dertalSen. He did not believe what Flint
had said.
''rhat is not necessary replied Sena-
| tor Hale. The Senate has the power to
| look into such matters without the neces-
| sity of resolution so directing it
| tOf course, my resolution Will be buried
| in the committee to which 1t goes" an
swered Senator Gore. In that tomb this
| inscription might we'll be written upon
the door. Herein lies and lies forever
Truly enough the committee has the pow
er ascribed to It by the senator from
Maine But a power unused is no power
al all.
A Man of Straw.
Then Mr.. Hale accused the democrats
of having raised a man OF straw i nor
der to knock it down Nobody was re-
sponsble for using the words "conspir-
acy' and robbery in connection with
the prices charged by the retailers and
jobbers, he held, except the senators on
that side of the cha mber. He said II was
all matter of course of the trade IN
this country. In certain parts of WASH
ington the thermometer registered 80 in
in the shade. Champ Clark knew about
1t because he felt that torrid wave was
here. He was told that the Senate at last
had got down to real work.
"Humphl'' he replied. That body is
like terrapin. The only way you can
get 1t to move is to pile chunk of fire
on it's backl'
Senator Root did not make a speech to-
day. Nor did he speak personally OF even
smile at Senator Money. For the better
part of the session he remained in one
of the cloakrooms lie soon grew weary
of having other senator's. the newspaper
correspondents and the galleries looking
at him If to say, We'll, yesterday you
thought you were great man. But do
you today. after Money got through taxi
ing your neasure2' and that is about
what people looking at him were saying
to themselves.