Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-26
Premium on Foreign Labor al
Expense Of Our People.
Senate Committee Organization
Controversy More Strenuous.
Champ Clark Doesn't Think Con-
gress Will Adjourn by June 1.

Washington, April 25.-The Demo-
cratic free list bill was roughly hand
led in the House of Representatives
this afternoon by its political enemies
on the Republican side.
After Underwood, Democratic chair
man of the ways and means commit
tee, had introduced it to the House, it
was left to the mercies of Mann. Ill.,,
leader of the Republican side; and the
things Mann said about it in two hours
gave both sides of the House food for
much debate and occasion for much
comment and criticism.
Mann declared that the free list bill,
introduced by the Democrats as the
first of their tariff measures, was
drawn inaecurately, indefinitely and
with such general language that it
might be stretched to include almost
half of the imports on which the Unit
ed States now collects tariff revenues.
The free list bill puts agricultural
implements of any kind and descrip-
ton on the free list. Mann demanded
to know what agricultural implements
would come under this provision. He
expressed the belief it could be stretch
ed to include the free entry of saws.
axes, forks. garden hose. hay knives.
and almost everything else that a
farmer, horticulturalist, gardener or
tiler of the soil ever uses.
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
e. IL
premium on foreign labor. he said, by
permitting these special kinds of Ieath-
err to come in free when they were
partly made up.
In putting agricultural implements
on the free list, said Mann, the Demo-
Gratis would let the International Har-
vester Co. dump into the United States
the implements it made with foreign
labor in its factories in France, Ger
many, Russia and Canada.
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
The free list bill admits free farm wag-
ons and farm carts.
docs this mean a wagon that has to
be used on farm" asked Mann; "or
the kind that can be purchased and used
in town? Is the treasury department to
follow up the wagon and see whether Mr.
Smith puts it on his farm or uses it in
town."
Underwood and other Democrats did not
attempt reply this afternoon to the gen
eral attack of Mann.
Gardner of Massachusetts attacked the
measure and the democratic policy IF
promising to Reduce the cost of living
without reducing wages paid in the Unit
ed States"
He asserted that in putting articles on
the free list the Democrats had discrim-
mated against the farmers and manufac-
turers of the Northern states while Ieav-
ing protective duties on tobacco, sugar,
rice, oranges and other articles produced
in the Southern states.
Adair of Indiana, Russell of Missouri
and Adamson of Georgia spoke in favor
of the measure.
Washington April 25.-The free list bill
was taken up in the House today and for
several days to come it will hold the GEN.
Underwood of the ways and means COM
mittee, in explaining the proposed meas
ure, acknowledged that it would mean a
reduction in government revenues. by at
least $10,000000 year, declared that this
would be more than met by the govern
ment economies.
This free list bill is not offered as
compensation to the farmer for the pro-
ducts of his that were put on the free
list in the reciprocity bill," said Mr. I'm
derwood, because We do not believe the
passage of the reciprocity agreement will
i'm any way affect the farmers income
One of the purposes of the bill is to re-
move from the protected list those i'm
pements that the farmer uses in pro-
dueing his crop. The other purposes to
reduce the cost of living to the masses,
by putting their food products on the free
list"
Mr.. Underwood announced that this
was only the beginning of Democratic
revision of the tariff.
1--WE propose to revise the tariff,
schedule by schedule" he said. That
is in our opinion the only proper way
to handle the tariff question in Con-
gress. The Democratic party does not
stand for the wiping out of the GUS
toms houses. We realize that the ex-
penses of government may be borne by
a judicious system Of duties. But by
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