Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-02
Democratic Leaders of House
Seek Common Ground.
DIVISIONS ON COMMITTEE
Ways and Means Members Hold
Three Sets of Views.
MUST FIGURE ON REVENUES
Possibility of Treasury Deficit
Looms Up to Vex Democratic
Tariff Program.

! caucus Of democrats of the House
will be called the latter part of this
week or early next week to arrange
for harmonious agreement and con-
lcerted action in the proposed revision
of the wool schedule. The democratic
leaders have realized all along that this
will be one Of the most difficult sched
ules to revise, since it will bring con-
, flcting interests and views to acute
issue
| The democratic leaders in the House
believe it will be possible to compose
| the differences of opinion over this
schedule and present bill which will
receive practically the support of the
democratic membership With splen-
did record thus far Of harmonious ac-
ton. the leaders are intent upon pre-
venting split in the party over the
wool question.
Committee Views Differ.
The secret sessions of the democratic
| members of the ways and means COM
| nlittee for the past ten days have been
dealing with this subject and at the last
meeting of the committee the sentiment
of the democratic members was develop
ed. Nine of them favored placing raw
wool upon the free list. Three members
advocated reducing the duty on raw
wool and providing for an annual auto
matte reduction. which would eventually
bring il on the free list, while two mem
bers insisted upon duty upon wool.
Those who advocated taking the ram
by the horns. so to speak, and shearing
of the duty at one clip. were MessrS.
Randell. Peters. Harrison, Hughes. Kit
chin. Hull. James, Rainey and Dickson
Messrs. Bradley and Hammond were for
protected tariff.
Chairman Underwood. Mr.. Shackleford
and Mr.. Palmer were the three men who
stood out for gradual reduction IN duty
1t developed. upon inquiry. that their
views were shared by some OF the most
influential democrats in the House. and
il is declared that this supporting senti-
ment has been increasing az the argu-
ments Of its adherents were set forth.
Fear Loss of Revenue.
The two main reasons advanced by the
Underwood group Of democrats were,
first the inadvisablity Of cutting off
S2O.UUO,OO in revenue. that sum being in
voIved in placing wool on the free list:
second. to avoid destruction Of an agri-
cultural industry which has been built UP
under long years OF protection and afford
ditions
The argument on the other side Of the
question advanced by the radical re-
visionists was that the democratic party
is under pledge to afford an effective re-
vision OF the wool schedule and that the
work might as well be done at one
stroke. The more conservative members
of the committee contend that il would ne
more practical for the House democrats
to pass a bill which would have some
Of tofn
the cooperation Of the Senate.
Present efforts are being directed to
sounding sentiment among the democrats
at large III the House with the view of
means committee in reporting a bill
which will be supported by the caucus
Up to this time every recommendation
of the ways and means committee has
been heartily indorsed by the democratic
membership Of the House. and the COM
mitteemen contend that IL is their pur-
pose to endeavor at least to propose
legislation which will meet the views Of
the membership
Wool Schedule Troublesome
All persons familiar with tariff legfsla-
ton in the past twenty years know that
the wool schedule is one of the most
difficult Of adjustment Of all the sched-
ules of the tariff act on account of the
and their conflicting interests When
the existing tariff law was under prepa-
ration the ways and means committee
devoted many DAYS to hearings upon this
subject. The record OF these hearings
cover nearly $40 printed pages.
From the Pacific coast to Maine and
from Rochester 10 Texas men represent
ing the seVera! Industries presented their
diverse arguments. With all the attention
and care given to the preparation of this
ccI,a a1,1lo Sfj oil rf g,-iy
every body. and the consumer felt espe-
cially aggrieved. II will be recalled that
President Taft voiced his dissatisfaction
with the schedule and thought that some
of its features were untenable
Nearly Every State Interested.
The hearings showed. however, that
upon the subject of raw wool more states
were deeply interested than in perhaps
any other product affected by the tariff
legislation then pending. Hardly a state
in the Union but presented plea for the
protection of the sheep grower In Ohio
the industry was shown to be OF vast ex-
tent and participated In by almost every
farmer.
Some OF the more conservative demo-
Gratis in Congress. hearing in mind the
history of the industry and its widespread
extent, are now fearful Of the result po-
| IiticaIiy OF too violent attack through the
/ tariff upon this branch of the farmers
| output. They say that at a time when
| some of the farmers are complaining OF
| apprehended i'll effects of reciprocity it
| may be unwise for the democratic party
10 menace the sheep-raising industry
See Shadow of Deficit.
The question Of revenue from wool is
| being taken into consideration Under
the Dingley act about ss5pO,Ooo annual
revenue was realized from wool. Under
more recent legislation and for various
reasons the revenue has fallen as low as
S2OWO,OOO at times. but even that sum is
regarded as being important under pres
ent conditions
| The farmers free list is expected to cut
| off from $l3OOO.OO to $I5.OOOUOO a year.
| and Canadian reciprocity another 5000
coo Some of the democrats say that if
the revenue from wool is abolished Con-
gress might have TO consider the ujles-
ton OF a possible deficit.
Boat Race Trophies Lost in Fire.