The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-12-15
TARIFF DEBATE
CumminS StirS Up Senate
With Amendment.
RULES QUESTION IS RAISED
Iowa Senator Draws Lodge Square
ly to His Side in COntending
For Piecemeal Revis-
ion Of the Law

that the present idiih law iANl''N' -
cessive duties and that the county at
largc demands its amendment Scna
tor Cummins. OF Iowa, delivered
speech in the senate in advocacy o.
his resolution to limit the power Of
amendment of bills dealing with the
separate schedules OF the law.
The speech was the first attack o.
the session on the Payne-Aldrich law
and it received close attention The
Iowa senator disavowed any intention
OF opening up a general tariff discus
sion. Still. he found it difficult tC
avoid a general expression upon tarif
questions.
People Want Tariff Amended.
1T is well known" he said. thai
I consider excessive and ineXcusablt
many OF the duties levied by the law
OF 1909 know also that many PEG
pie believe that the law should be
mended
During the recent political strug
gle | did not hear a single utteralcC
by Republican that did not admit
that the law contains duties that ought
to be chansed and that it is the duty
of congress TO act speedily.
He contended that the first step t
be taken was the modification of tn
rules so as to make it possible &
amend any provision Of the tariff Law
without taking up the entire tarif
question.
The real issue" he said. is whe tn
er We shall so amend our rules as tc
permit the amendment of the law
schedule by schedule"
Mr. Cummins had not proceeded fan
until he was compelled to submit &c
Interruptions by Senators Aldrich
Hale. Lodge and Carter
Il think" said Mr. Aldrich. that
we are all agreed that it is desirable
to take up the tariff by subjects. not
by schedules.
He expressed doubt as &c the ade
Quacy of the Cummins amendment 70
the rules to accomplish this result. He
contended that it would have the eff
feet of curtailing the constitutional
power Of the house to originate tariff
legislation. Mr. Bacon also cOntended
for the right of each house to formu
late its own rules.
Mr. Hepburn would not give assent
to the proposition that all Republican
are agreed to the policy Of pieceme'
tariff revision. He advocated the pro
tective policy and refused to be com
mitted to any other policy.
Lodge Willing to Help.
After an experience with five tar
IFS. believe that some way should be
devised for the amendment of tariff
laws without entering into a general
revision" said Mr.. Lodge, planting
himself squarely upon Mr. C"mmins
side.
The debate drifted into a technical
parliamentary discussion Of the pro
priety of dealing with the subject by
means of a joint resolution, as is pro
posed by the Cummins resolution.
The senate committee on finance
considered various suggestions pre-
sented TO congress in connection with
demands for a modification of the law
creating the tariff board.
Several senators expressed the be-
lief that permanent tariff commits
sion should be authorized and that th,
membership should not be larger than
that of the existing tariff board, which
comprises three members.
1t was the sense Of the meeting that
some action should be taken now. and
Senator Aldrich. the chairman, was au-
tborized TO name a subcommittee to
consider the whole subject.