New-York tribune., 1911-12-28
A REPUBLICAN WOOL BILL
To Be Drafted in Accordance
with Tariff Boards Report.
WORK TO BEGIN TO-DAY
Representative Hill Says Revi.
sion Will Be Careful and Scien-
tific-Democrats at Odds.

Washington, Dec .-Characterizng the
report Of the Tariff Board as the most COM
prehensive. fair and helpful document ever
presented TO Congress. Representative HilL
Of Connecticut. a minority member OF the
Ways and Means Committee. said to-day
that the Republicans OF the committee VIII
begin tomorrow to frame a wool bill strict
~ IN accordance with the report and the
Presidents recommendations.
4 meeting Of the minority members VIII
be held tomorrow morning. when galley
proofs Of q portion of the fun report OF the
Tariff Board will be ready. The complete
report will come from the government
printer early next week.
The partial examination we have made
OF the boards report" said Nh hin, con
vinces us that it is the most wonderful
document ever presented TO a tariff making
body. The information is absolutely non
partisan: II was gathered in all parts Of the
world al the same time. and Il embraces
every phase Of the wool industry. Con
eress must either accept the report pre-
scented by this non-partsan board or an
attempt must be made to impeach the fig
ures The minority members Of the Ways
and Means Committee are willing TO accept
them as correct and to base their bill on
the report. regardless Of the action OF the
Democratic majority
Mr. Hin says the Republicans are not
PLAYING for political advantage. He sees no
necessity for hurrying the preparation of a
Republican bin merely that the minority
members may introduce a measure revising
Schedule X ahead of the Democrats.
That would he Of no especial advan-
IN
members of the committee are intent upon
revising Schedule X. but we are going 10
he in position TO back up our bill. Hereto
fore. without scientific information, tarlH
revisionists have had to shoot into the AR.
We arc going to study every section oi the
report base our bill on it. and leave the
country to pass judgment on sincere
effort at revision in accordance WIN Tue
data collected by a non-partsan board OF
experts which has had unlimited opportu-
nifty 10 study the wool industry every
where"
Mr.. Hill believes the minority members
of the committee will be practically agreed
among themselves as to the interpreta-
tion of the boards report. Nothing VIII
hinder the systematic, careful framing
of the Republican substitute. The Demo-
Gratis Of the Ways and Means Committee
however. have no such pleasant prospect
i'm store First. SAYS Chairman Under
wood the Democrats propose 10 'check
the Tariff Board figures. which process
will entail a delay of weeks and may mean
the rejection by the majority of at least
4 portion of the report. The majority
sets great store by its own experts.
The Democrats in the committee must
also reconcile their renewed differences re-
garding free raw wool. The so-called
Bryan faction in the committee, led by
Representatives James and Harrison. viii
urge that all duty be removed from wool
Chairman Underwood must therefore bring
out his steam roller again and convince
his colleagues that about 20 per cent
duty on raw wool is a revenue necessity
The free-woolites will go through the form
Of fighting for their convictions. but in
the end a caucus will be called. If neces-
Sary. so that the Democrats may present
united front for the Underwood bill
The Democratic leaders will see to il that
personal convictions do not stand i'm the
way on the eve Of Presidential cam
paign, when party harmony must be the
wstchword.
MI Hill said to-day that neither party
would be able to present wool bill for
several weeks. as the Republicans desire
thoroughly to analyze the report of the
Tsrff Board and the Democrats are deter
mined to spend much tim, in their check
ing up process.
Representatives Payne and HiI, had a
long conference with President Taft to-
day about the Republican wool bill. Their,
will be further conferences with the Pres
ident before final draft is made.