Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-13
FIRST ATTACK OF SESSION ON
PAYNE-ALDRicH BILL MADE
ev IOWA SENATOR.
FORCES ALDRicH TO AGREE
POSITION is CORRECT
Dictator Of Measure Does Not Agree
That Amendment Of Rules Would A.
ford Desired Reief-Heyburn, Lodge
and Others Express Dissenting
Views.

washington Dec. 13.-COntendiny
that the present tariff law imposes eX-
cessive duties and the country at large
demands it's amendment, Senator
Cnnlmins. of Iowa, today delivered a
speech in the senate in advocacy OF
his resolution limiting the power OF
amendment of bills dealing with sepa-
rate schedules of the law. The speech
was the first attack of the session on
the Payne Aldrich law.
Cun1ln;ns disavowed any intention of
opening up general tariff discussion.
Still he found it difficult to avoid j
general expression of the tariff ques-
ton.
1T is well known" he said. that
consider excessive and ineScuSable
many of the duties levied by the law
of 1909. I know also that many peo-
pie believe the law should be amend
ed. During the recent political strus-
gle 1 did not hear single utterance by
republican that did not admit tbs
law contains duties that ought to be
changed. and that it is the duty OF
congress to act speedily
Tho FIRST step.
Declaring. then, that under the
existing parliamentary usage in the
house and senate, amendment of the
tariff law is out of the question. he
contended that the first step to be TAX
en- was modification of the rules sc
as to render 1t possible to amend an
individual provision Of the tariff law
without taking up the entire tariff
question.
"rhe real ISSUE" he said "is wheth-
er we shall SO amend our rules as to
permit amendment Of the law schedule
by schedule"
Senator Starts Something.
Cummins had not proceeded far un-
til he was compelled to submit to in-
teruptions. Aldrich. Hale. Lodge and
Carter participated In the debate. AL
drich AFFORDED the iowa senator much
qualification by expressing concur
renee with the latter. "I think" said
the Rhode Island member, we are all
agreed that it is desirable to take W
the tariff by subjects. not by sched-
ules" He expressed doubt. however
as to the adequacy of the Cummins
amendment to accomplish this result
contending the adoption of the reso-
luton would have the effect OF curtail-
ing the constitutional power Of the
house to originate tariff legislation.
Bacon also contended for the right
of each house to formulate it's own
rules.
Hepburn Dissents.
Hepburn would not assent to the
proposition that all republicans are
agreed to the policy of piecemeal tar
ifr revision. He advocated the pro-
tective policy and declined to be COM
mitted to another policy.
Lodae With cummins Too.
"After an experience with five tar!ffs
I believe some way should be devised
for amendment of the tariff laws with
out entering into a general revision,
said Lodge. planting himself squarels
on Cummins' side. The debate driftet
into technical parliamentary discus
sion of the propriety Of dealing with
the subject by means Of joint resolu-
ton. as is proposed by the Cummins
resolution.
Aldrich thought there might be con-
currence on the part of the two houses
but he did not accept the theory tha
the question could be dealt with b,
joint legislation. On the other hand
Curnmins contended general concur
renee without legislation would be abb
solutely impracticable.