Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-04-29
Republicans Declare 1t is
a Political Trick.
DEMOCRATS OUTLINE PLANS
Minority in House Are Told Far
mers' Bill" is Only Start in
the Proposed Tariff
Revision.

Washington, April 26.-General de-
bate on the farmers free list bill"
began In the house with bitter attack
on the measure in the form OF mi
nority report from the Republican
members of the ways and means COM
mittee and the declaration OF Repre-
sentative Underwood, chairman Of
that body, that the Democrats intend
ed to revise the entire tariff schedule
by schedule.
The minority report declares that
the Democrats are seeking only to
gain political capital by the introduc-
ton of bill appealing to one class OF
citizens, asserting that the best inter
ests of all classes will be served by
the adjournment of congress without
further legislation as soon as the re-
ciprocity bill is written into law.
Mr.. Underwoods declaration came
in explaining the free list bill, which
he declared was only start in the
tariff legislation which the Democratic
party contemplated. He also asserted
that the bill was not simply soothing
syrup" for the farmer, but that it was
intended to alleviate in a measure the
high cost of living.
The Republican statement says:
The pending bill was ordered re-
ported not only without investigation,
but without the semblance of consid-
Grafton by the committee. 1t was stat
ed in the committee that it would re-
duce revenue about $1,500,000, and it
is now admitted that it will cut down
the revenue by more than S10,000,000,
and later admissions are likely to sub
stantially increase this amount.
THE measure was christened by it's
authors the farmers free list bill and
1t represents transparent attempt at
the manufacture OF political capital. In
view of the title, which its friends
have given it, it would at least have
been proper to investigate the effect
it is likely to have upon the agricul-
tural interests.
The president of the United States
felt 1t his duty to call congress in
special session to consider the Cana
dian reciprocity bill. That bill has al
ready been acted upon by the house,
and instead of bringing forward tariff
bills, ill-considered or not considered
at all, for the purpose of administer
ing political soothing syrup to par
ticular classes of population, the I'M
dersigned are of the opinion that the
interest of the farmer and everybody
else will be subserved IL the country
is spared from further political exploit
tation and further legislation at the
present time and adjournment Is TAX
en- promptly after the reciprocity bill
shall have been finally acted upon"
The free list bill has been placed
before the house. 1t threatens to lead
to almost endless debate before it is
finally passed along to the senate.
Amendments already are beginning
to pour in and efforts are being made
by free trade Democrats to enlarge
the scope of the measure.
The bill as introduced by Mr.. I'm
place more than 100 articles used by
the farmers on the free list.
Representative Underwood, chair
man of the ways and means commit
tee, opened the debate. In explaining
the proposed measure he acknowledge
ed that it would mean reduction in
revenues of at least $10,000,000 year.
but declared that this would be more
than met by government economies.
Mr. Underwood announced that this
was only the beginning of the Demo
cratic revision of the tariff.