The Washington times., 1909-02-19
Hasten TO Have a Measure
Ready When March IS.
Arrives.
SECRECY OBSERVED
AS TO SCHEDULES
O. O. P. Ways and Means Mem
bers Do Not Want Minority
to Know the Figures.
By John SNURE.

With the date for the meeting Of the
extra session OF Congress to revise the
tariff fixed at March 10, it is now eX-
pected the Republicans of The Ways
and Means Committee will hasten the
new bill to a conclusion.
About four weeks remain in which
they can perfect the dill and 1t is the
expectation the measure will be ready
10 lay before the House March is. the
first day the special session opens
Great secrecy surrounds the bill the
Republican members of the committee
are framing. Several reasons are given
Tor this One is that the committee
wants to be bothered as little as posi-
bic with the agents of interests who
may find their pet schedules lowered
Another reason is that the committee
wants business agitated as little as pos
slb!e- A third reason is that it IS not
the purpose 20 make the bill public for
the study and scrutiny of the Demo-
Gratis any sooner than is absolutely
needful.
Nevertheless, some echoes Of what is
going on within the recesSes Of the in
Ier sanctum Of the Ways and Means
Committee are audible. They indicate
that the Republicans on the committee
have gone over the proposed schedules
once. 1t is pretty we'll settled how va
rious schedules will stand, but there are
others which are not yet settled
Democrats View Schedules.
The Democrats on the committee are
going over the proposed schedules. hey
are determining what rate of duty the
various items should bear They are
los "
are not actually drawing one UP. They
intend TO wait until the Republican bill
comes out and then make such altera-
tons in rates IN the Republican bill
rs they consider warranted. Only TO
this extent. will they draw a new bill
They intend 10 have everything in
readiness so that when the Republican
bill is forthcoming all that will be nee
essary, If the Republican measure does
not suit them, will be the clerical work
OF banging out schedules.
Republicans in Trouble.
The Republicans on the committee are
having much trouble agreeing on he
various schedules. In the first place,
this is the FIRST time the Republicans
have been called on to make consider
able reductions in duties. Generally, re-
vision Of the tariff upwards has been
the Republican task This year the
sentiment of the country is generally
interpreted as favoring revision down.
wards, and the Republican members OF
the Ways and Means Committees,
rather. a part Of them-are acting &C
cordingly.
Then there is a general cleavage OF
opinion between the Eastern and the
Western members of the committee. The
Eastern Republicans incline to free raw
materials and the Western members In
cline the other way. This general DIFF
ference makes agreement difficult.
Important reductions in duties are 10
be looked for when the tariff bill comes
out Of committee. THIS Will be the case
in spite of the opposition Of some OF
the committee. II is reported from a
high quarter, for instance that the
Republican caucus has voted TO y 10
reduce the lumber duty from s. TO 81.
This would be cutting the tariff in half
on lumber not manufactured
Nobody doubts that there will be i'm
pOrtant reductions in the iron and steel