Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-06-12
Incidentally Became Subject
Of q Senate Debate
SUNDRY CIVIL PROVISION
For Investigation of Effect
of Present Law Provok-
ed Democratic Attack,
Messrs. Aldrich and Bev-
eridge Reiterate Views

Washington, June 1.-THE tariff
question again occupied the attention
of the senate throughout the day, and
the discussion was not concluded. The
subject came up in connection with
the provision in the sundry civil APP
preparation bill, providing a fund OF
S250.O00 with which to enable the
president to investigate the operation
of the present tariff law. The dis
cussion was participated in by large
number of senators and took a wide
range, which everybody understood to
be largely colored by political con-
ditions.
Senator Clay opened the debate with
a sharp democratic speech charging
that the measure was intended to de-
Iude the insurgent republicans into
the belief that there was to be an
other revision of the tariff.
He was supported by senator Bailey
and succeeded in bringing Senator
Aldrich into the controversy, with the
result that he made a defense of the
present law, and succeeded in again
bringing Senator Beveridge to his
feet
The Indiana senator and the Rhode
Island senator found opportunity tn
thresh out their old controversy over
the authorship of the investigation
provision of the Payne Aldrich tariff
bill. but with the result that each
held to his original contention.
Mr. Aldrich said he desired the in
formation the S250,000 would elicit as
a justification Of the present law,
which he and numerous republican
senator's pronounced the best tariff
law that ever was placed on the
statute books. All the regulars eX-
pressed the opinion that there would
not soon be revision of the tariff.
Incidental to the debate, there were
some amusing incidents. Senators
Bailey and Johnston made reference
to the telegram sent by Senator Bev-
eridge to Senator Clapp, after the
close Of the Indianapolis convention
in which Mr. Beveridge was quoted
as saying he had kicked the stomach
off the tariff bill" Mr.. Johnston con-
strued this language to mean that
NJ. Beveridge had disturbed the
"epidermis in the abdominal region of
the tariff"
Mr.. Clay declared the provision to
he purely political He repeated that
there was no necessity for the eX-
penditure and it would accomplish
no good.
Mr. Aldrich. explaining the s250.O0O
provision. said the appropriation was
rendered desirable by the maximum
and minimum provision of the pres
ent tariff law THE president mus;
not only be advised of possible dis
ordinations. but must have means of
knowing what they are" he said. The
appropriation was to enable the presi-
dent to carry on the Investigations
and did not mean a new tariff.
we we're not engaged in the en-
actment of a revenue tariff in the
passage of the bill of 1909, he said
we were carrying out the protective
provision in that enactment.
Mr. Aldrich said the last bill was
not exactly what he wanted and he
did not mean to close his eyes to fu-
ture demands Il say, and | say dis
tinctly, that the bill of 1909 was the
best protective act that ever was
passed by congress-" said Mr. Aldrich,
but | don't undertake to say that
this circumstance will preclude fur
ther changes"
Mr. Bailey found in the provision a
mere device to obtain a suspension OF
judgment until after the next election
He said il was not intended to pro-
duce an inquiry of such general scope
as the insurgents had predicted,
but merely to carry out the present
law. Therefore he intimated the in
surgents had been buncoed.
Referring to Mr. Aldrichs char
acterization of the present law as the
best tariff law ever enacted. Mr.
Bailey declared that notwithstanding
this opinion Mr. Aldrich was unable
to get the endorsement Of the Indiana
convention. which had renominated
Senator Beveridge, who had voted
against it.
But Indiana was not alone, he said
The western states were generally op-
posed to the existing tariff, he de-
clared He said that if the admin
istration's influence could be removed
from Iowa, the verdict in the APP
preaching convention would be against
the law. AS it is" he said, lit is
trembling in the balance"
Senator Dolliver made a brief argu-
ment in support of the contention
that the provision would give to tht
president power to extend the opera
tions of the department of commerce
Mr.. Hepburn made an appeal to al
republicans to get together and stand
Loyalty by the party, and stop the
agitation of the tariff.