The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-05


cratic tariff programme was moved
up closer 10 Pre- sident Taft today,
when the Senate. by another remark
able coalition of Democrats and Re-
publican insurgents. passed a farm
er's free list" bill. later voting down
the original bill.
The "unholy alliance" as the coa-
ntion was called. massed In almost
unbroken front. swept aside host Of
amendments. voted down by a tie vote
the original House measure, accord
ing to programme for political pur-
poses. and then carried by a surpris-
ing concentration of strength a meas
ure differing from the House only in
comparatively unimportant parts.
Now the bill goes back to the
House. and Democratic Leader Under
wood. of that body. tonight conf
IDENTIFY asserted that 1t would be finally
agreed to in conference between the
two houses and sent to President Taft.
1t Is not certain that the House
will insist on a conference. many
prominent Representatives believing
that the bill is not sufficiently chang
ed. They are anxious to rush the
first of the tariff measure to the
President.
II am not sure 1t will be sent to
conference. / can see nothing to
prevent the two houses from reach.
ing an agreement upon its final FORM"
said Mr.. Underwood.
Had Senator Bailey. of Texas, vot-
| ed with his Democratic associates.
the original bill would have passed.
! One vote was all that stood in the
way of placing the entire issue Of
mocratic-Insurgent tariff reform
Immediately before the President.
Mr.. Bailey announced last night
that he hoped the privilege Of casting
the deciding vote would fall To him.
Had Senator-elect Hoke Smith. of
Georgia. bssn present t" vote. the bill
would tonight have been in the Pres
ident's hand.
The House free list bill was beaten
on tie vote. 80 TO SO. and was then
Teconsidered. changed by a compro-
mise amendment offered by Senator
Kern. OF Indiana. former Democratic
candidate for Vice President ana with
Democratic-Insurgent support finally
passed as amended by a vote Of As to
80.
The new bill provides that -four.
meat productions and cereals should
be on the free list.
The Kern amendment provided
that this free admission shall apply
only to meats. -four and cereal pro-
| ducts coming from any foreign
country with which the United States
has n reciprocity treaty agreement
and which shall admit from the Uni
ted States. free of duty. cotton. corn,
wheat. oats. horses. cattle and hogs.
| IL Is admitted that this provision
applies only to Canada. after the new
reciprocity agreement shall have be-
come effective. Senator Clapp and
other insurgents who voted for the
free list bill after the Kern com
promise amendment had been adopt
ed. said tonight that the amendment
accomplishes what they tried to ef
feet by amendments to the recipro-
city bill.
Several other amendments were
adopted after they had been first de-
feated when offered as amendments
to the original bill.
| One Of these, by Mr.. Gronna, OF
North Dakota. insurgent Republican,
extends the free list admission OF
shoes to cover all kinds Of footwear,
whether leather or not. Another by
the same author. admits free Roman,
Portland and other hydraulic cements.
An amendment. by Mr.. Shivley. OF In
diana, Democrat. adds bagglng to the
list.
III President Taft vetoes the bill
and the wool tariff bill, both Of
which. II Is asserted, will he sent to
him. the Democratic managers Of the
House will make no further effort at
tarin revision this session but will
continue the preparation Of tariff bills
Tor the regular session next Dcccm-
Der. IL he signs the bills, the whole
Democratic programme will open up
and Congress will remain i'm session
until December.