The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-07-29
SENATE DEMOCRATS WORRIED
SHOW DISPOSITION TO BACK
WATER ON TARIFF REVISION.

Not So Certain That They Made Political
Capital by (Dalescins With 1nsur gent,
Favor Adjournment After Pass
ing the Farmers Free List Bili
WASHINGTON, July 2s.-Democrsts in
the Senate showed a disposition to-day
to back water on the tariff revision pro.
gramme Some Of the Southern Senators
went TO the extent even OF waiting or
Senator La Toilette. their new peerless
leader to urge him not to press his bill
revising the cotton schedule a. an amend
ment to the farmers free list bill when the
latter comes up on Tuesday. The Senator
from Wisconsin would not promise
definitely and the Southern Democrats
went away unhappy.
Democratic leaders in the Senate also
are beginning to have misgivings now as
to whether they have really made any
political capital for themselves from the
coalition on wool with the Republican
insurgents. They are thinking things
over rather seriously Many messages
reached them from the South to-day
especially from some of the industrial
sections. and as II result they now want
to let the cotton bill go over until the
regular session.
They we're arguing to-day that the
cotton schedule ia very complicated
one. much more complicated than the
wool schedule. and that il would be a
mistaken policy to go into a revision of
il without having more definite informa-
tion at hand Their present position in
fact is very much like that of President
Taft. who has insisted that Congress
have scientific data from the Tariff Board
before undertaking revision Of the wool
cotton or any other schedule
The cotton industry in the South has
been benefited by the PAYNE Aldrich law
The Southern Senators admit this In the
readjustment Of the duties on cotton
cloths the trainers of the Payne Aldrich
law built barrier by which $50 OOO. 600
worth of importations in the cheaper
grades OF these manufactures were barred
from the country. OF this $50. ono 900 in
creased domestic production the Southern
manufacturers got a large share. The
New England mills it is said. have turned
their attention to the higher grades and
have diverted to the South the manufac-
ture Of the cheaper grades Of cotton
cloths for which the Southern mills are
especially equipped All of these things
have been explained 10 the Southern
Senators and they suddenly became con
servative to-day.
II was apparent this afternoon that
the Democratic Senators are in favor OF
an early adjournment There is less talk
Of staying in Washington until the snow
flies" The Democratic Senators clearly
realize that something" happened when
the wool bill was passed through the
Senate as a result Of a combination be.
tween themselves and the insurgents
but they are not at all certain just what
it means for them politically.
There seems to be a growing realization
that they have been used as a tail to
Senator La Follette's Presidential kite
and many Of them have decided now
that they would like to get away before
anything more important happens" OF
course there are exceptions to this pre-
vsiling view. Senator John Sharp Will
Jams. who is very anxious to uproot the
protection system. and Senator William
Joel Stone Of Missouri were still talking
to-day in favor of keeping Congress in
session and entering upon a general
revision Of the tariff. but they were prac-
tically alone in this view The sentiment
of most of the Democrats appeared 10 bc
IN favor of passing the farmers free list
bin with few amendments and then
taking an adjournment until December
II was remarked by Senate Democrats
to-day that Representative Underwood
chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee Of the House, apparently is as much
concerned over "hasty and unscientific"
revision of the iron and steel schedules
as some of the Southern brethren are
over any hasty legislation on the cotton
schedule. MIR Underwood halls from
Birmingham. which is the centre Of the
iron and steel industry in the South II
Is said that he sees much force in the
Presidents argument. az least in regard
TO iron and steel. that il is well to wait
until the Tariff Board reports The
Senate adjourned over until Monday with
the full approval Of the Democrats The
interval before the vote il taken on the
farmers free list bill will afford oppor-
tunity for reflection.
II is understood that the La Toilette
wool hill as II passed the Senate will re-
pose on Speaker tla-k's table until next
week and will then be called up by Mr.
Underwood He MAJ move to nom
| concur in the Senate amendment and
10 AJAX for conference and tina, the
Speaker appoint confereeS for the House
or he NAV move 10 non-concur and thai
{ he bill be sent back to the Sena.e In thai
case IL will he mp to the Senate to ask
for the conference The Democrats IN
rhe House may decide to hold a caucus
TO work out a programme OF action on
the hybrid bill tina. has been put up TO
them by the Senate
Senator La Toilette is still very happy
over his victory on the wool bill He will
have two Democratic associates on the
conference committee provided the bill
10 sent TO conference Senator Bailey
and Senator Simmons. who voted against
Canadian reciprocity, will he the Demo.
cratic conferees and Senator La Toilette