Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-14
TARIFF REVISION
DELUSI0N EXPOSED

WASHINGTON. June 1.-THE tariff
question again occupied the attention of
the senate throughout today and the dis
cussion was not concluded. The subject
came up In connection with the provis-
ion in the sundry civil appropriation
providing a fund of $4,000 with which to
enable the president to investigate the
operation of the present tariff law.
The discussion was participated In by
a large number of senator's and took a
wide range, which everybody understood
to be largely colored by political condi-
lions.
CLAY OPENS DEBATE.
Senator opened the debate with sharp
Democratic speech, charging that the
measure was intended to delude the In
surgent Republicans into the belief that
there was to be another revision OF the
tariff, which he tried to prove by several
Republicans senators with some measure
of success. He was supported by Senator
Bailey on the Democratic side OF the
| chamber. They succeeded in bringing
Senator Aldrich into the controversy with
| the result that he made a defense OF the
present law and succeeded in again bring
| ing Senator Beveridge TO his feet.
The Indiana senator and the Rhode Is
| land senator found opportunity TO thresh
out their old controversy over the author
ship of the investigation provision OF the
Payne ldrich tariff bill, but with the
result that each held to his original con-
tention Mr. Aldrich declared that he and
he alone had been responsible for the
provision. While claiming credit for the
tariff commission bill Of last session. the
! Indiana senator asserted that but for the
| general agitation resulting from that
, bill, there never would have been an
! investigation clause in the bill.
WANTED JUSTIFICATION.
j Mr. AIdrich said he desired the infor-
l nation the s95O,OO0 would elicit as JUS
/ tification of the present law which he
and numerous Republican senators pro-
\ nounced the best tariff law that ever was
placed on the statute books. All of the
i regulars expressed the opinion that there
would not soon be a new revision OF
! the tariff. Incidental to the debate there
were some amusing incidents. Senator
\ Bailey and and Senator Johnston made
reference to the telegram sent by Senator
! Beverage to Senator Clapp after the
1 close OF the Indianapolis convention In
which the Indiana senator was quoted dis
saying he had Kicked the stomach off
the tariff bill" Mr.. Johnston construed
this language into meaning that Mr.. Bev-
] eridge had disturbed the "epidermic in
1
| CALLS HALE INSOLENT.
Mr. Hepburn was among the speakers
and Mr. Hale called forth the epithet of
! '1nsolent" from the Idaho senator by
| appealing to Senator Cummins mot TO
wind him up again when the Iowa SEN
ator sought to interrupt his Idaho col
league Everybody smiled over the In
cident.
The fact appearing that various sena-
tors still desired to be heard Senator
Hale reluctantly moved an adjournment
without reaching a vote on either Sen
| ator Clay's motion to strike out the
provision or on the final passage or the
sundry civil bill. The senator from Maine
expressed deep regret that an appropria-
ton bill should be the occasion Tor such
political debate.
PURELY POLITICAL.
Mr. Clay declared the provision to he
purely political He repeated that there
was no necessity for the expenditure and
II would accomplish no good.
would the senator from Georgia be
IN favor Of a revision OF the tariff II his
party should be in power two years or
| four wears hence?" asked Mr.. Aldrich.
ct would be IL my party were in power
and we could have a revision along reve-
nue. lines" said Mr.. Clay.
He suggested that the Democratic par
ty had shown intelligence enough in the
past to revise the tariff.
Yes to the country's loss" interpreted
Mr.. Aldrich. adding. IT hope we will be
spared such an experience In the future"
Mr.. Clay said the Republican party
had recently revised the tariff ito the
countrys loss and some Of the members
of the Republican party hold the same
opinion"
Continuing the discussion Of the
PROVISION In the sundry civil ap-
rropriation bill authorizing the presi-
dent to expend s250.000 for IN
formation regarding the tariff. Senator
CLAW today declared in the senate he
could see no reason why the provision
should become a law. He asserted that
the INQUIRY would merely duplicate the
work done by the department Of COM
merce and labor, which cost s11.0oO,ooo an
nually. He feared that the purpose was
to get fat jobs for hungry office-seekers.
He declared in reality that not a single
Republican member on appropriations
wanted further revision of the tariff and
vet the adoption of the paragraph
amounted to an announcement that there
would be a revision.
He said the Republicans must win o.
lose in the next election in defending
the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill. They are
compelled to defend it," he said. 1T IS
their bill and the president says it is the
best bill that ever was put on the statute
books"
Interrupting, Senator Galiinger said
that he agreed with Mr.. Clay that in the
elections this fall the Republican party
would be compelled TO defend the present
tariff and stand or fall in It's defense