Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-04-24
WOOL REVISION
IMPERILS PEACE
OF DEMOCRATS
Majority in House Favor Put
ting Raw Product
Upon Free List.
SENATOR BAILEY HEADS
OPPONENTS TO MEASURE
Would Entail Slashing of Whole
Schedule, Rates Being Based
on Raw Material.

WASHINGTON, April 24-That Their
will be trouble over the revision of the
wool schedule in the tariff law, as out
lined by the Democratic majority in the
House, seems to be the unavoidable
conclusion. in view of the recent can
vass that was made. A majority of the
Democrats favor free raw wool In the
committee on ways and means, which
passes on revenue. legislation, there is a
similar majority favoring free wool.
But three or -four of the potential lead
ers and a group in the Senate, headed
by Joseph w Bailey, OF Texas, are di-
rectly opposed to any such provision.
If the bill containing a free wool clause
is passed in the House. its passage in
the Senate will be desperately resisted
by those who follow Senator Bailey.
Up 10 date things AVE run smoothly
with the Democratic majority in the
House. They nave decided upon meas
Eres in the party caucus and put such
measures through the House just as
they planned. The Democratic record
is a good one. so far as harmony is
concerned. There are breakers ahead.
and the Eemocratic leaders are prepar-
ing for a storm.
AS stated, free raw wool has the ap-
proval Of a majority of the ways and
means committee. although the on
servative Democrats in that organiza-
ton are hostile. 4 party caucus will be
held on the subject of the wool
schedule. There will be no trouble in
reaching an agreement to reduce the
ratrs on wooden manufactures. The
fight will be waged over the proposal
10 admit the raw product free of duty.
Would Mean Wholesale sIashing.
Ways and means committee men who
are hostile to the idea frankly admit
that a count of noses shows that most
of the Democrats favor free raw wool
and that from present indications the
bill to be reported authorizing a re-
vision of the wool schedule will provide
for the admission of the raw product
duty free.
Free raw wool in the Democratic bill
would mean thai the rates of the whole
schedule would be slashed right and
left. The present rates on wooden man
u~factures, which run as high in some
instances as 400 per cent, are based on
protective rates on raw wool, on which
there are imposed rates that vary, run
ming as high as II cents a pound, ac-
cording to quality.
Democratic House leaders nave not
abandoned hope of inducing the party
caucus to indorse a revenue rate on raw
wool. They will strongly urge a low
rate or the raw product, with rates on
wooden manufacture cut down MATERIAL
", not exceeding IS or 40 per cent in
any instance.
No Chance I'm Senate This Session.
There is little or no prospect OF the
Democratic wool bill being. enacted into
law at this session. The measure will
the House, but stands no chance
of going through the Senate. However.
the action of the House on this measure
is of the utmost Importance. 1t will
amount to a notice to the country of
the position of the dominant party in
the House on this particular feature of
the tariff law.
The free list bill will come up in the
House tomorrow. The next step in the
tariff labors of the Democratic majority
viii be the revision of the wool sched-
ule.