The Washington times., 1911-06-23
GENERAL REVISION
Of TARIFF NOW IS
HOUSE PROGRAM
Speaker Clark Says Country
Demands Action-Pre-
diets Long Session.
By THEODORE H. TILLER.

Predicting an all-summer session and
declaring that the Democratic House
intends to stay in Washington until the
Senate acts upon bills revising various
tariff schedules, Speaker Champ Clark
today outlined the tentative program of
the Democrats. The party proposes a
general revision of the entire Payne
tariff.
The Speaker is hopeful that the coali-
ton among Senate insurgents and Dem
ocrats will hold together. In this event
he forecasts remedial tariff legislation
that will be put directly up to the Presi-
dent either to sign or veto.
: Speaker Clark declares that the pub
lie is not in the mood to accept excuses
for delay in revising the tariff The
Republican plea that the tariff board
has not made its report" observes
MIR. Clark, will not be received with
patience by the country.
The tariff board" said Speaker
Clark, has been in existence something
likeEeighteen months. So far as Cong
ress is advised, it has learned nothing
and when we passed the bin revising
the wool schedule the board reported,
on the very day that the bill passed
the House, that it had no information
to transmit regarding the wool sched-
uIe.
Probable Program.
"In view of recent developments In
the Senate, and a coalition between the
insurgents and Democrats there who
want a revision of the House, abe pro-
gram of the House will be as follows,
generally speaking:
THE House will mark time for ten
days or two weeks. Meanwhile work
will progress on the cotton schedule,
and it may be ready to lay before the
House within three weeks The WAYS
and Means Committee must spend con-
siderable time on this schedule. which
is rather intricate. but with cotton out
Of the way. the committee may make
better time on some of the less involved
schedules in the Payne law.
We are going to shoot tariff bills over
10 the Senate just as fast as we can
frame them properly and secure their
passage in the House. The cotton sched-
ule probably will be followed by a re-
vision of the sugar. iron, steel, and
other sections of the Payne-Aldrich law.
Revision Demanded.
Representative Clayton has intro
duced a bill to lower the duty on sugar
and to strike from the law all reference
to No. 76 Dutch standard, the reten-
ton Of which benefits only the refiners.
Il have seen reports that the Presi-
dent will veto all tariff legislation enact
ed in advance of the report OF the tariff
board. We cannot help that If such
proves to be the case. We take the
position that general revision of the
Payne law is needed, and that it is de-
manded by the people.
In the light of the situation today
l see no prospects for an early ad-
journment. ] hope that those who favor
tariff revision In the Senate will stick
together; COALITION; however. cannot be
absolutely depended on"
The Speaker smiled reminiscently here
thinking Of the Observation-Disclosures
combine that overthrow Speaker Cam
non in the rules fight more than q year
ago.
Tariff and Trade Pact.
What will be the attitude of the
House if the Senate tacks the free list
bill and the woolen schedule as riders to
the Canadian reciprocity agreement"
the Speaker was asked.
Il don't believe thev will do any such
thing" said Mr.. Clark. which indicates
that the Democratic leaders believe that
reciprocity will stand on it's own bottom
and that tariff bills, if they are passed
by both houses. will be put I'D to the
President on their own merit
Il can tell YOU what the House will
do with the Root amendment. if ii is
added to reciprocity" continued Speak
er Clark. We will turn the Root
amendment down in short order"