New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-12
HOUSE DEMOCRATS PUT
RECIPROCITY FIRST
"Free List for Farmers" Second
on Their Legislative
Programme.
CAUCUS REACHES DECISION
Underwood Measure, Approving
Agreement with Canada, In
dorsed. 1913 to 29-An
other Caucus on Revision.
CAUCUS REACHES DECISION
From The Tribune Bureau


Washington. April 1f-Bv vote Of
1oS 10 %. six members voting present.
the Democratic members of the House
decided in caucus this evening 10 pass
the Canadian reciprocity resolution be-
fore taking UP the tariff schedules.
motion by Representative Webb. ~
North Carolina. n tack the so-called
free list" on the reciprocity agreement,
was overwhelmingly rejected BY stand
ing vote.
Immediately after the caucus met Rep
resentative Underwood who was com
n7itted to the plan 10 pass the reciprocity
resolution first. and then take up tarin
revision. expressed the opinion OF the
House lenders by presenting two bills for
consideration. one approving the Can
adian reciprocity agreement. the other
blanket bill proposing to put numerous
articles on the free list
In order first TO placate Democrats
who might oppose reciprocity those IN
charge Of the programme tonight hrst
elected to take up the free list the
plan being TO agree on this feature OF
tariff revision before committing the
caucus 70 the Canadian agreement. Even
two hours Of argument, largely consumed
bv Mr.. Underwood. failed 10 convince
some OF the Democrats that Canadian
reciprocity ought to take precedence. and
Representatives Rucker. Of Colorado;
Small and Webb. OF North Caroline. and
Sherley. OF Kentucky. openly advocated
making the free list schedule a rider on
the reciprocity resolution. Mr.. Rucker
thought the Democrats ought 10 have
more time 70 think over the matter, and
threatened 10 bolt the caucus, AS did
Messrs Small and Webb.
Representative Underwood urged that
the Presidents reciprocity proposition
should be taken UP and passed by the
House az once. and il was apparent from
the beginning that this plan. favored by
the leaders IN the House. finally would
be approved by the caucus. If the
farmers suffer TO any extent under the
Canadian agreement. Mr.. Underwood
rPdSOntt. lllFN VIII '' i'''lAi f'iA''b "
the advantages gained by putting agri-
cultural implements and similar articles
used by them on the free list.
Articles on Farmers Free List.
The blanket free list bill proposed by
Mr.. Underwood specifies the following
articles from which the duty shall be
removed: Agricultural implements. in
cludlng harrows. reapers mowers, bind
ers and plougns. boots and shoes. sad
dies and saddlery. wire fencing, baling
wire, cotton bagging and ties. coarse
sacks. burlap. -four. dressed meats and
mea, products sewing machines. salt and
rough and dressed lumber. except hard
wood
Speaker Clark urged the caucus to
give prompt approval 10 reciprocity ana
10 put il ahead Of other tariff legislation.
Mr.. Clark declared ihat he had fath in
Mr.. Tafts promise not TO prorogue CON
gress as soon as the Senate passed the
reciprocity resolution. but the mutter-
ings OF distrust were st!ll heard IN some
parts of the chamber. a small coterie or
Democrats insisting on tariff reduction
first.
owing 10 the prolonged debate to-
night the Democrats Will hold another
csucus Two weeks hence on the wool and
cotton schedules II became apparent
early in the evening that the caucus
could not map out its complete legisla-
tive programme. so divergent were the
views Of the several factions II the party.
The Canadian reciprocity resolution
auuroved by the caucus IN Identical with
tho Mccall resolution OF last session. ex-
cont that /, will bear the name of the
cb,irmap of the Wavs and Means Com
mittee and will be known az the Under
wood resolution, and request addressed
10 the President asking him to treat with
cansdn with view Ia obtaining sun
further tariff concessions viii be added.
II was further decided that as there
was nn wish To make party measures OF
the constitutional amendment for popu-
lar election Of Senators. the Dill provid-
ing for publicity of campaign contribu-
tions i'm advance OF cl"cflnns. ana ap-
nroval of the constitutions OF Arizona
and \ew Mexico. there was no occasion
for action on them by the caucus, and
The cba,rmen of tho committees having
,hou I'm charge were instructed 10 re-
mort them to the House AZ soon as prac-
ticable.
The caucus decided TO appoint an or
ganizatjon committee 10 work out the
matter OF patronage.