The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-25
TARIFF PROGRAMME OF THE NEW HOUSE Clark and Underwood Agree
 on Plans REVISE SCHEDULE K Underwood Will Report Canadian Reciprocity Bill With Tariff
 Revision Measures Tack
 ed on to It
BY wArTERsoN sTEALEY

Washington. February 24.-(SpeciaL) The tariff programme of the new House of Representatives. which. under the constitution, initiates legislation ofsthis ch aracter. has been tentatively agreed upon.
 If the President calls en extra srs- sion of Congress to meet on March IS six weeks after that time the Canadian reciprocity bill will be reported to the House by Representative Underwood of Alabama
 This bill will carry revision of schedule K.-the wooden schedule which is generally admitted to be the most iniauitous in the existing cus- toms act and which even President Taft, who approved 1t. recognizes as needing revision. The existing woolen schedule is almost identical with that in the Dingley act passed in lS97 Dur ing the consideration of the Payne bill 1t bore the brunt of democratic and in- surgent criticism, the late Senator Dol liver,s speech against 1t attracting the widest attention.
 Having tackled revision of the wool en schedule In the Underwood reel procity bill, the measure will be passed by the House and sent to the Sen ate Following this and as soon there after as the work involved will justify it. the ways and means committee will report a revision of the cotton schedule, pronounced by many as even worse than the woolen schedule. Schedule M. pulp, paper and books--and cut ting down of the enormous duties on agricultural implements are expected 10 follow soon after.
 With the exception of the wooden schedules, bills amendatory of oth CT schedules will be presented to the House as separate measures. passed by the House and sent to the Senate for its approval.
 The utmost independence of action will characterize the action of the House. Having been commissioned by the people to decrease the tariff, 1t
 Is the purpose of Representative Un- derwood aud his colleagues in the ways and means committee to undertake their task with a view of sending to the Senate bills which they believe to be thoroughly democratic-and upon which the party will go before the coutnry
 
 Senate emasculates these bills or if q republican President vetoes them, the issue Is made clear.
 It Is for the voters to say whethe CT they prefer the bills drawn by the House of representatives, decreasing tariff duties. to whatever may be done by Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania, or whoever may be selected to head the finance committee to succeed Sen ator Aldricl.
 The democrats of the House will make every effort to get through the Senate their bills. but 1t was made clear today that there will be no sacrifice of democratic principles and that the House will remain firm against what Is declared to be the purpose Of the Senate to so change the House bills as to make them show little improve. ment in the present law.
 Tn case the Canadian reciprocity bill which was put through the House by democratic votes, passes the Senate and an extra session Is obvtated. the ways and means committee will report a in December.
 If the Canadian reciprocity bill fails at this session. upon it at the next ses- sion goes a revision of the woolen lschedule within two months after the extra session Is called
 Old stagers around the House and Senate have not given up hope that there will not be an extra session. Many things can happen around the capitol | within a few hours. and 1t Is by nc means certain that before Congress ad- | journs, March 4, that the Canadian reciprocity bill will not be law and chances for an extra session gone glim- mering. | If an extra session comes Speaker Clark and Chairman Underwood are prepared to meet 1t along the lines indicated above.