The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-26
Republicans Character
ize It as Political
Soothing Syrup"
MANN LEADS IN
GENERAL ATTACK
Democrats Make No Attempt to
Reply to Speeches Assailing
Measures enate Regulars
Preparing to Oppose sop"
to Farmers-Means
Long Session.

washington. D. c.. April 25.-The
Democratic free list bill. characterized
by the Republicans on the Ways and
Means Committee as political sooth-
ing syrup was roughly handled In
the House of Representatives this af-
ternoon by its political enemies on
the Republican side.
Mr.. Underwood, Democratic chair
man of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, introduced IL to the House In an
hours speech. shortly after the ses-
sion convened at noon Then 1t vas
left to the mercies of Representative
Mann. of Illinois. leader of the Repup-
lican side: and the things MIR. Mann
said about it gave both sides of tho
House food for much debate, and oc-
casion for much comment and criti-
cism.
MIR. Mann declared that the free list
bill was drawn inaccurately. indefinite
~ and with such general language
that it might be stretched to include
almost half of the Imports on which the
United States now collect duties or
rcvenue
The free list bill puts agricultural
implements .'of any kind and descrip-
ton on the free list. Mr.. Mann eX-
pressed the belief 1t would be stretched
to include the free entry of saws. axes.
forks. garden hose. hay knives and
almost everything else that a farmer.
horticulturists. gardener or tiller OF
the soil ever uses.
Premium on Foreign Labor.
He said the bill was SO drawn that
It would admit free the leather from
which the farmers shoes were made
but would exclude that from which
his wife's shoes were made. 1t nut
q premium gu foreign labor, lie said,
By permitting these special Kinds of
leather TO come in free. when they
were partly made UP
In putting agricultural implements
on the free list. said Mr.. Mann. the
Democrats woIlds let Mathematician
Harvester Company dump into the
United states the implements 1t made
with foreign labor In its factories
in France, Germany. Russia and Can
ada.
These products will be sold here
he said. mot at lower prices. but at
the same price. and yet the result
would be that they would be made by
foreign labor"
Chairman Underwood and other Dem
ocrats did not attempt a reply to the
general attack pom the bill made by
Minority Leader Mann.
Mr.. Gardner. of Massachusetts. at
tackled the measure and the Demo
cratic policy of promising to reduce
the cost OF living without reducing
wages paid in the United States.'' He
asserted that in putting articles on
the free list, the Democrats had dis
eliminated against the farmers and
manufacturers of tho Northern States.
while leaving protective duties on to-
bacco. sugar rice. oranges ana other
articles produced In the Southern
States.
Measure Advocated.
Messrs. Ada'r, of Indiana; Russell,
OF Missouri, and Adamson, of Georgia.
spoke In favor of the measure. Mr.
Adamson declared that after Mr.
Mann's attack upon the bill, he had
gone to Chairman Underwood to see
IL they ought not 10 call n Democratic
caucus and fix up the measure. but
that Mr.. Underwood had assured him
the bill was all right.