The Washington herald., 1911-05-11

Where to class William Jennings
Bryan on the proposed revision Of the
wool tariff is q matter which is giving
concern to several Democrats of the
House.
There is question as to just where
| the former leader stands on that im-
portant subject, for, there are said to be
| extant two plain and unmistakable
Bryant pronunciamentos-o Of them
contained in a written statement which
is said to be put away carefully in the
| desk Of Speaker Champ Clark. and the
| other in a recent issue Of the Commoner.
The Bryan statement in writing, which
| Speaker Clark is said to be treasuring
as carefully as though it were a million
dollar gold bond. is held TO contain a sub
| mission to a compromise revision on
| wool, whereby there shall be 30 per
cent reduction at once in the present
| tariff on both raw wool and manufac-
tured wooden goods, with a plan for a
gradual reduction lasting over five years
| which shall eventually place raw wool
on the free list and leave an ad valorem
tariff Of about 25 per cent on the manu-
factured article
Wants Wooden Duty Abolished.
statement. published only recently and
subsequent to Mr.. Bryan's signing Of
the statement in possession Of Speaker
Clark. in which the former leader coun-
sells the complete abolition Of the wooien
duty, and suggests that IL the Democratic
party is going to listen to the complaints
Of a few wool growers as against the
whole people, affected by the high cost Of
living, it may as we'll renounce its au-
thority to make over the schedules.
Granting that Mr. Bryan has written
and signed a statement for the benefit OF
the Congressmen, recommending a COM
promise, which exceedingly competent au-
thority says he has, the question natur-
ally arises: Just which edict is to be
regarded as official-the one in possession
fof Speaker Clark or the published article
which has gone out to the people,"
Mr.. Bryan attended the opening of the
extra session of Congress on April and
held many conferences with the Demo-
cratic leaders on the question of tariff
revision. 1t is understood that he en-
CT serious complaint of his atti-
\the wool duty should be alb
solutely swept away. It was demon
strated to him that many members OF
the party in Congress would be greatly
embarrassed by such a course and that
the revenues OF the government would be
affected disastrously II the whole s42. co.,.
900. which is supposed to represent the
annual wool tariff receipts. were swept
away at once. Responding to pressure.
IT is asserted. Mr.. Bryan agreed to favor
the compromise plan. above outlined.
At the suggestion of Speaker Clark, he
then drew up in writing the fact that he
was willing to favor free wool as an
eventual instead Of an immediate under
taking. Speaker Clark carefully slowed
4, e. 49,, ~ Dr.
signature. knowing that sooner or later
it would come in handy.
Feel Public Pulse.
Last week the Speaker and Chairman
Underwood, of the Ways and Means
Committee, began in earnest to sound out
sentiment on the wool tariff, and the
deans of the various State delegations in
the House were called to the Speakers
room to confer. In the course of these
confabs, Mr. Bryan's statement was
tenderly hauled forth and exhibited as
proof of his standing on a gradual reduc-
ton platform.
A few days later several Of the Repre-
sentatives who were allowed to gaze at
the Bryan memorandum were confronted
by clippings of newspapers which quoted
the Commoner as urging free wool, un-
qualifiedly Verbatim copies of the Com
moner article showed what purported to
be a lapse of memory on the part of the
prominent Nebraskan in regard to the
agreement to a compromise reduction In
fact. Mr.. Bryan appeared to have re-
turned to the same state of mind he was
in when he came to Washington to watch
the new Congress organize. He wanted
free wool at once, and no heckling or
beating aroupd the bush.
Democratic members from the wool
growing communities found some balm
for their consciences when they discov-
cred that Mr.. Bryan. according to the
information that came from the Speaker.
stood with them on a system which
called for an easy let-down Of the busi-
ness interests. instead of the serious jar
lift and drastic wool reduction might
cause.
Find Bryan q Stumbling Block.
Naturally It has been something of
a fly in their ointment to discover that
Mr. Bryan is now urging the Democrats
of the country to favor immediate free
wool. They are not inclined to take the
discrepancy too seriously. but still 1t
counts. The written statement of Mr..
Bryan may yet be brought forth to pub
lcity in order to settle this particular
corner of the vexing wool tariff difficulty.
AS argument against the policy of
placing wool Immediately on the free list
there was yesterday advanced the plea
that care must be taken in order not to
impair the revenues of the country too
greatly in the face of the necessity Of
meeting the expenditures of the next fs- |
cal year, which have already been pro-
vided for by Republican Congress. No
matter what the contingency these ex.
penditures have been authorized by law
and must be carried out. To reduce the
receipts on wool to a minimum therefore,
it was asserted, would be putting the
fiscal system very close to the danger |
line, If not in absolute jeopardy
There was also in the wind yesterday |
the report that the Republicans would !
have a wool tariff bill of their own, a |
slight reduction affair, with which they |
might hope to catch many of the protec- |
ton Democrats. This matter, however, |
Is said to be held in allegiance until It is
seen what may be the outcome of the |
efforts of Messrs. Clark and Underwood |
to have the Ways and Means Committee !
follow conservative policy.
Democratic leaders in the House ex-
pressed the opinion last night that a |
was in sight on the terms |
of the bill proposing revision of the |
wool schedule of the existing tariff law. |
The leaders now believe that they have |
laid low the ghost Of free raw wool, and |
they are very much elated. The proposed |
according to Democratic |
leaders, provides for a reduction in rates |
on raw wool Of about 80 per cent, and |
cuts In the rates on woollen |
1su a,sg shs a.s a.,- q u ss.s,.s :. ~
Hotel Engel