The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-20
Democratic Committee
to Then Take Up OF. err.
Tariff Questions.
NOT YET DECIDED
ON PR OC f y u r E.
Proposed Revision Of Different
Schedules May Be Placed on
Canadian Measure as Rider
or May Be Treated as
Separate Matter-Latter
Course Probable.

! Washington, ID. c.. March l3-lt is
| the expectation Of Chairman Under
! wooi that the Democratic members OF
the House Committee on Ways and
Means will begin work OH tariff uucs-
tons some time during the coming
| wce,s. and that by the time the cxtraor.
/ binary session OF Congress is convened
on April some plan will have been
| mapped out TO govern the committees $
/ procedure after the bill TO carry out
! the Cenadian reciprocity agreement has
! been framed.
] the most complex question that will
come before the committee is whether
any iariff questions will be placed upon
| the Canadian bill as riders. or whether
| sucn schedules as the committee decides
should be revised shall he treated as
separate measures.
The certainty that hearings would
! nc demanded by producing and manu-
| featuring interests affected by any pro-
| posed revision OF the tariff may de-
ternine tho Ways and Means Commit
tee, In order not to compiicate the Ca.
madam question with considcrat ton OF
such schedules as wool ana woolcns,
cotton or agricultural implements. to
treat It as separate measure. The
majority of the committee is; :, Unit in
favor Of the Canadian agreement ana
| II is believed that the decision will be
TO Keep 1t separate from other tariff
| matters. and take up schedules after
| tho Canadian bill! has been sent to the
| Senate.
Underwood In Charge.
| Contrary 10 the general report Rep
| rc:entative Peters. OF Massachusetts
| VIII not introduce the Canadian bill,
which VIII be presented almost imme-
d!atcly upon the converting OF the spc-
cini session, to carry out the terms of
/ the agreement That honor will fall
10 Chairman Underwood. following the
practice OF having revenue mca sures
presented by the chairman OF tho Ways
| and Means Committee. The bill. how
ever, Will be the one framed in the
committee and will be known as a
committee measure.
Although the prospects are that the
Car adian bill will not carry general
tariff revision as a rider ii is not i'm
| probable that it may go a great deal
| further than the Mccall bill, which
| passed the House in the last session.
! Al the same time the Mccall bill will
| be followed SO far as 1t was designed
! TO carry out the terms of the agree
| ment with Canada. The difference be-
| tween that measure and the one which
/ "a
| mlttee proha bly, will be in the nature
| OF additional provision, which would
| give the President the power TO enter
| into freer commercial relations with
Canada In respect to articles not named
| by the agreement.
Such a graph may be built upon
| the plan OF section 3 OF the Dingley
| act. That provision. known as the
| trading section OF the Dingley law, en-
ablcd the President without consulta-
| ton with Congress. to enter into nego-
| t!ations with other countries for Tu-
| tual tariff concessions on certain slip
uIated articles. even to the extent Of
| suspending absolutely the imposition
and collection Of duties. Most of the
| Democrats in Congress are in favor of
| absolute free trade with Canada but
| they realize that they have not the
| power 10 lcgislatc to that end. Their
course would be. therefore, 10 put the
authority in the hands Of the Prcsi-
| dent, to exercise at such time as Can
ada. by action of its Parliament might
consent. Such a provision. it is said.
would not in any way involve the exist
| ing agreement.
| May NeccssItatc Change.
| The Introduction OF such Il provision
| into the Canadian bill might nccessi-
tate very slight change in the agree
ment itself. The agreement was pat
! termed after the language of the Ding
|
Aldrich act. Under the former. the
words ARTICLES. the growth, productor
manufacture Of" were held by dccci-
broad OF me TReg s 9
duction of articles which were assem-
F! bled in a foreign country comprised
which the concession was not intended
to apply. Cognizancc Of this fact was
taken by The trainers Of the PAYNE
Aidrich law. and the word wholly"
VIZ. n 3., T.. ..11>
growth: product or manufacture Of
The effect was to narrow thu appli-
cation Of the law to tho original in
inent. Is negotiated by tho two coun-
tries. does not use the word "w.olly .
Many OF the tariff experts regard This
should be rcctificd IN the event OF the
| adoption Of an additional section.
! which would enable the President to
extend The nsrcement at some future
| time, these experts would consider the
| use or the word wholly" to be ALSO
jjlntely necessary.
Members OF The Ways and Means
dictate. their intention to proceed with
a revision Of the tariff In the event
they fail to tack any. rc,v!sions Of
say Trey viii make il clear ina that. they
I Will follow the Canads>p bill with
on, or Two schedules IN any, event.
and that the House vii! be held in
/ session long enough to give the Senate
opportunity to act,
1t Is tho general opinion that the
| Canadian agreement VIII be sent to
] the Senate BY May -. less than thirty
! days after the special session is called
to order.
! No tEsti,nntc Of Time. Il
II Is Impossible to estimate how
long tho Canadian question will he
/ before the Senate. No action can he
taken ut this time. even to ascertain
| sentiment, for nearly half Of tho Ell
| nnce Committee was dcclmated by
1 death. and the flGklcness OFFS political
I fortune, and tho vacancies will have
I to be filled before any action can be