The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-08
Adjournment May Be Forced Without Action
 On Tariff Bills
LAFOLLETTE FIRMLY
 REFUSES COMPROMISE
Senator Declares Any Reduction From Senate Bill Would Be Fa- tai and Underwood Says Re
 duction Must Be Made

Washington, August T.-.Senator LaFoi- iette and Chairman Underwood or the House ways and means committee, wno have undertaken to reconcile the differ- ences between the Senate and the House on the wool and the farmers free list bills for the full conference committee, are in an unquestioned deadlock. with the possibility Of remaining so and thus fore ing an adjournment of the session with out final action on either of these meas ures, FfH f The tie-up is due to the uncornpromising g position of Mir. LaFollette in opposition to the House; bin, He has tola Mir. un- derwood that a reduction of the rates be- low those fixed by the bill as it passed the Senate is an impossibility and in re- sponse the chairman of the ways and means committee, who had great difficult ty in getting an agreement by the House to the rates fixed in his bill, has said that the House never would consent to accept the Senate figures.
 Mir LaFollettes contention is that the Senate rates constitute reduction of about three.fourths of the difference be- tween the rates of the Payne-Aldrich law and those of the, House bill; that 1t is impossible to go lower and hold any thing like all the progressive republicans and that it is better for the democrats 10 take half loaf than get nothing in the way of tariff bread.
 MT. Underwood did not accept the Sem ate figures but Is quietly canvassing the House to ascertain what increase over the House rates may be possible. He has told some of his friends the House might ne persuaded to meet the Senate half way" but Senator LaFolette merely smiled in response to suggestions of this character. He told MT. Underwood the difference was with his party friends rather than with himself, and they sus- tained him in the statement.
 The progressive republicans consider it important that they stand as a body and nave found it impossible to obtain any thing like unanimous consent to rate of less than s5 per cent on raw wool and the corresponding rates on woolens fixed by the Senate bill. The difficulties pertain entirely to the wool bill An agreement on the free NSt could De ndd at any tlIne.
 Adjournment Rumored The deadlock has given rise to all kinds of suggestions and surmises. Accepting the tange as inextricable, some senators and representatives have suggested a. movement for final adjournment of the session regal 1less of the conference, and the Senate is being sounded on that prop ostion Most of the regular republicans are wiling to agree to this as are some of tte democrats. Included in the latter list are those southern senators who would like to see the further consideration oe the cotton bill postponed until next session.
 The cotton bill is unquestionably play ing part in the conference, but all the facts have not come to the surface. The insurgent republicans and some of the democrats who strongly favor cotton leg s.aiion appreciate the impossibility of holding q quorum of Congress in Wash ington after final action on the wool bill They take the position that the only safe guard for the cotton bill Is to keep wool back until after the cotton bill is re- ported, and a day fixed for vote The power to so hold the cotton measure rests with the conferees, but they do not ad- init they are acting from this motive.
 
 atorial associates on the conference com mlttee today that the outlook for agree men. was somewhat brighter He said also that while the full conference com mittee might De called together any day, . week might elapse before & meeting would be desired by the subcommittee.
 Mir. Underwood tonight said The be- lieved the free list bill would be sent to the President.
 Vice President sherman said he thought the conferees on the wool and free list bills would reach some agreement by Wednesday. One or both of the bills, he believed. should reach the President by Friday, be returned with veto Saturday, and be acted on adversely by Congress Monday. which within IS hours thereafter would be able to wind up the extra ses- sion.
 With wool disposed of one way or the other" said Democratic Leader Under- wood of the House, we ought to get through here before many more days un- 1ess the Senate undertakes to debate that cotton bill If that is done, don't know when we will get away."i 5f8sr
 1T am almost positive that LaFollette and Underwood cannot get together on the wool bill, said Minority Leader Mann. "If that is so I do not believe the adjourntnent will come by next Saturday.
 "r am certain of one thing, that the democrats will not have enough votes to pass anything over presidential veto. ~ Senator Penrose, republican leader, said an adjournment is still most uncertain While hopeful that the wool and free list hill oonferees soon would reach an agree ment. he said he had no definite informa- tion upon which to base such conclu- sion.
 And If inslstence is made he added, 'of taking on other schedules as amend- n1ents to the cotton tariff revision bill 1t is hard to predict when we will get away .se, f-