The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-05-02
HOUSE DEMOCRATS May SPLIT
WOOL SCHEDtLE APT TO CAUSE
BREAk ~ THE RANKS.
4 Majority Of the Party In the House
Favors Free Raw wOOi. but Speaker
clark and chairman lnder wO0d Are
Opposed Leaders Really Worried.

Fav0rs Free Raw wool. but speaker
clark and Chairman lnderwO God Are
Opposed leaders Really Worried.
WASHINGTON. May |. A situation has
developed in the House of Representatives
in connection with the proposal to amend
the wool schedule Of the tariff law that
may cause a serious split in the ranks OF
the Democratic party in Congress. Nine
Of the fourteen Democratic members OF
the Ways and Means Committee are de-
termined TO report a wool bill which will
admit the raw product duty free. The
Ave members Of the committee opposed
to free raw wool are led by Chairman
Underwood.
While Speaker Clark has not up to date
attempted TO dictate to the leaders or the
House membership in matters Of legisla-
ton. he il taking a lively interest in the
deliberations Of the committee over the
wool bill. He has expressed the opinion
to members Of the committee that the
party will make a serious blunder II IL
passes a bill containing free raw wool
provision.
Messrs. Clark and Underwood have
pointed out to the majority in the Ways
and Means Committee that IL the Demo-
cratic House commits itself to free. raw
wool Ohio. Indiana and Nebraska and
other wool growing States which are now
veering toward Democracy will be lost
to the party in the next Presidential cleo
ton They have argued further that raw
wool is big revenue producer and that
IL would be unwise from an economic
standpoint to admit the product duty free
until measures have been evolved that
will furnish revenue to take the place OF
| that now yielded by raw wool.
! Speaker Clark and Chairman Under
wood are very much in earnest in the
arguments they have made. Up to date
the Democrats have worked in harmony
on all legislative matters. The wool bill
threatens to make trouble. Even IL the
Speaker and Majority Leader Underwood
induce the majority of the Ways and
Means Committee to approve bill pro-
viding for duty on raw WOOL they will
still have another difficulty to overcome
A count of noses has disclosed that ma
jority OF the Democrats in the House
favor free raw wool
II became known to-day that it is The
init the debate on the free list bill to run
was TO pass the bill this week and then
report the wool bill. Owing TO the differ
ences Of opinion on raw wool. which
now appear TO be irreconciliable. it has
been decided TO forego action on the
wool measure for a time. The indica-
tions are therefore that the wool bill
will not make its appearance for two
weeks or more.
In the meantime the leaders will pray
with the Democratic membership and
I thnv n ra hnpafpl that in Ct,a tho,y
will be able to bring a sufficient number
OF them into line TO warrant taking up
the wool schedule in a party caucus.
The present rate on raw wool amounts
to about 35 per cent ad valorem. II WAS
said to-day that Speaker Clark and Chair
man Underwood favor compromise
rate. ranging somewhere around 2S
per cent. The Wool Growers Associa-
tion has advised the Democratic leaders
that the adoption OF q rate less than 25
per cent. would be fatal to the industry.
; Conservative Democrats in the Senate
are assisting Messrs. Clark and Under
wood in persuading House Democrats
TO vote for duty on raw wool The
. House leaders realize that there are in
fiuential Democratic Senators. among
them Bailey Of Texas. who would fight
J free raw wool to the last breath.
. Democrats who are inclined to be un-
, friendly TO Champ Clark rather resent
, what they chara cterize as the Speakers
: interference in the plans Of the COMMITTEES
on Ways and Means with reference to
The wool schedule. Most of the House
leaders have welcomed Mr.. Clark's sug-
gestion and agree with him that it would
he an unwise move for the party - &c
, ON record AT this time in favor Of free
raw wool
. For the first time since they came into
! control of the House the Democratic
1 leaders are really worried. The mem
beis of the Ways and Means Committee
:, fav orable 10 free raw wool are tenacious
, OF their opinions. So far they have
2 shown no disposition TO yield. Conscious
Of the fact that a ma aiority of their party
I in the House s anxious to remove the
= tariff from raw wool, they are at present
disposed to hold out against the leaders
Present indications are that the debate
on the free list bill will continue this week
and part of next week. II by that time the
leaders find they are still unable to com
mand the situation 40 far IA raw wool il
concerned some other measure will bs
reported to the House. There are mum
ber Of propositions available for consider