The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-07-31
TO CONFER ON TARIFF BILLS
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WANT
TO KNOW WHERE THEY AREAT.

Indications Are That an Agreement VIII
Re Reached 10 Pass the Farmers'
Free List Btll with an Amendment
striking Out Products OF the Farm.
WASHINGTON, July 3O.--The Demo-
cratic Senators have called a party con-
ference for 10 O'Clock tomorrow to de-
terniine what shall be their course In the
matter Of amendments TO the farmers
free list bill. which IL to be voted on Tues
day and to consider the entire tariff
situation.
In advance OF the conference the indi-
cations are that an agreement will be
reached TO pass the farmers free List bill
with an amendment striking therefrom
the products Of the farm. This 10 sub
stantially the Bailey amendment. 1t 10
understood that this concession is neces-
ssry In order to secure support for the
bill from Senator Bailey and his Demo-
cratic following. and the insurgent Repub-
licans are also demanding that certain
amount Of protection be retained on the
products Of agriculture.
The attitude OF Senator Bailey and his
friends and Of the insurgents appears a
little inconsistent, in that they demanded
when the Canadian reciprocity bill was
before the Senate that duties should be
taken of Of -four and meat. on the ground
that they we're the products Of the milling
trust and the beef trust. Now they are
insisting that the duties he kept on these
articles. But they justify their action
on the ground that in the Canadian rec
iprocity legislation the farmers products
that entered into the manufacture Of
-four and meat cereals and livestock. were
on the free list. while duties were retained
on beef and -four.
The farmers free list bill places all OF
these articles on the free liet, both the
raw material and the finished product.
The effect Of the Bailey amendment will
,, be to restore them to the dutiable list
Senator Bailey and the insurgents appear
to think that the farmer was hit so hard
by Canadian reciprocity that he should
have some compensation in the retention
Of duties on his products. The Demo-
cratic leaders believe they will be able
to command enough votes to pass the
farmers free list bill on Tuesday II the
Bailey amendment is adopted exempting
agricultural products from the free list.
There has been some quiet work to pre-
vent any amendment to the farmers
free list bill other than that proposed
by Senator Bailey. 1t is understood that
no serious effort will be made to attach
the House cotton bill a. an amendment
to the farmers free list bill Senator
La Follettes bill revising the cotton
schedule now pending in the Senate bears
q very close resemblance to the Under
wood cotton bill. For time il was feared
that the Senator from Wisconsin might
insist that his Democratic allies accept
his cotton bill and failing in that might
offer the House bill and put them in a hole.
There was also a disposition mani
tested for time among the insurgent
Republicans TO offer amendments revis-
ing schedules generally. but it is the
understanding now among the Democrats
that they have working agreement
from their insurgent friends by which
they will not press these amendments
Even Senator Bristow. it ia reported.
will not offer his amendment to the sugar
schedule, The cotton bill. when il comes
from the House. will be referred 70 the
Finance Committee and hearings be had
upon il, If the Southern Democrats can
have their way and they are feeling
rather cheerful just now over the out
look
There is disquieting situation for
the Senate Democrats in the attitude of
Representative Underwood. chairman Of
the Ways and Means Committee. toward
the La Toilette wool bill Mr. Underwood
declares that he will not accept the La
Toilette bill nor will he agree TO a com
promise carrying 80 per cent on raw wool
and corresponding duties on the manu-
features Of wool lie insists that his bill
which passed the House carrying 20
per cent on raw wool and corresponding
duties on the manufactures Of wool
has been drawn on a scientific plan. and
he predicts that when the Tariff Board
makes its report on the woollen schedule
II will recommend duties more nearly
approximating those given in the Under
wood bill than those carried by the La
Folletts bill
The Senate Democrats admit that they
are somewhat apprehensive over the
outlook. IL the Tariff Board should
recommend duties lower than those
carried by the La Toilette bill it would
be vindication for MIR. Underwood
they admit, and would leave those Demo-
Gratis in the Senate who voted unanimously
for a IS per cent. duty and its accom-
panments in a very bad way
Representative Underwood has had q
number Of conferences with the Senate
Democratic leaders. He insists that they
shall accept his bill He declares that he
will not ask for a conference, but will
move to send the bill back 20 the Senate
md require the Senate TO ask the House
for conference The Senate Demo
Gratis are urging Mr. Underwood TO agree
on a compromise bill carrying 2S per cent
on raw wool with corresponding reduc-
tions from the rates given in the La Fol-
lette bill on the manufactures OF wool
They admit that they are doubtful
about getting the necessary votes to pass
through the Senate any bill which re-
duces the duty on raw wool below 30 per
cent. They have an agreement with the
insur gents by which they can command
the necessary votes to pass a bill based
on 80 per cent That was the underst and
ing when the La Toilette bill. based on
IS per cent. was passed The 8 per cent.
represented margin for trading pur-
poses. 1t required a great deal OF labor
and persuasion to get enough Senators
to agree to accept the compromise based
on 80 per cent. II ia known that some OF
the Republican Senators who voted for
the La Toilette bill will not support a
duty below 30 per cent. but the bill had
10 ajority and the authors OF it can lose
few votes and still be able to pass it,
Nothing definite will he known until
after the Senate conference tomorrow
morning There are a great many un-
certain factors in the situation and much