Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-23
ON WOOL
House Democrats to Adopt.It
at Caucus June 5.
EAST AGAINST THE WEST
Majority Vexed by Old Fight for
Free Raw Materials.
MUST LOOK TO REVENUES
Members Of Ways and Means Com
mittee Fearful Of Facing
Treasury Deficit

A caucus Of democrats ~ the House
VIII he held June TO act upon the PRO
gram TO be presented by the democratic
members OF the committee on WAYS and
means for proposed revision OF the wool
schedule. In that meeting the contest
viii be between the representatives OF
the eastern districts where manufactures
prevail. for free raw wool. and the west
ern wool-growing districts. for rev
enue duty. on wool
1t was intimated TODAY that the demo
cratic members Of the ways and means
committee. who have been holding almost
daily sessions for the past ten days, viii
recommend to the democratic caucus re-
vision Of the wool schedule along the
following lines:
Outline Of Program.
Imposition upon raw wool OF an "a
valorem duty ranging from - 90 30 per
cent, according TO classification
On manufactures of wool. ad valorem
duties ranging from 80 to 20 per cent
No duties on any article in the wool
schedule 10 be in excess OF 50 per cent
The cheaper goods to have benefit OF
the lowest rates Of duty.
Blankets TO be dutiable at 30 per cent
ad valorem
Substitution of a straight ad valorem
duty for specific rates and combined spe-
cific and ad valorem rates In the cur
rent law.
The Missouri and Illinois delegations
met this morning and declared in favor
OF duty for revenue on raw wool and
holding out stoutly against free raw wool
Thus will be precipitated in the caucus
renewal Of the old fight within the
democratic party between the advocates
of free raw materials and those who
stand for tariff for revenue upon raw
materials and manufactured articles alike
New York. New Jersey and Massa-
chusetts through their democratic dele
cations in Congress have already taken
this stand for free raw materials. The
action of the Missouri and Illinois dele
cations today, insisting upon revenue
tariff. draws the contrast and outlines
the contest which will be wagec within
the caucus. Other western states will
| follow.
Two weeks ago 1t was declared. and
probably with correctness. that q ma
| jority Of the democrats OF the House
We're in favor Of free raw wool In fact
a majority OF the democrats of the ways
and means committee were so CLASSIFIED.
Decision With Caucus.
| II remains for the caucus to develop
whether the sentiment of tho rank and
! file as to raw wool has changed. The
fact that the attitude of "A majority
of the democrats OF tho ways and
means committee has changed is re-
garded Of deep significance. how
ever. and may have important bearing
upon the action of the caucus
I'VE need the money. This, in brief.
is the explanation Of the reason for the
change in sentiment Of the Iys and
means committeeman. II is a question
of revenue with them. pu.e aid sim
pile The abolition of Ill duties raw
wool meant a clear isss to tho govern
ment's revenues OF a21.00o.o0o a year.
The ways and means committee Is
responsible TO the people for the laws
under which the revenues raised
for carrying on the ordinary expenses
OF the national government The com
mitteemen held that IL was no part OF
their duty to report for enactment into
law an economic policy which might
create a deficit in the revenues AT the
end of the next year.
Republicans Voted Outlay.
They did not overlook the important
fact that the expenditures for that year
have already been provided for. and ~
a republican Congress. The democrats
of this Congress. il was contended
while not being responsible for the
large expenditures authorized by pre-
vious Congress. would be criticised it
they so amended the law under which
the revenues are to he raised for that
year as to create a deficit.
II was contended in the committee
discussions that "A tariff for revenue Is
good democratic policy sanctioned hv
an authorities and that nowhere in the
democratic policy is there requirement
for abolition of tariff duties TO point
where such action would be followed
by a deficit in the revenue.
II is freely stated about the HOUSE
that William J. Bryan is in thorough
accord with this view. and that the
efforts of the committee to conserve
the revenues while at the same time
fulfilling the democratic pledge to tho
people of reducing the tariff, meet with
his approval