New-York tribune., 1911-12-29
UNDERWOOD TELLS PLANS.
Democrats to Revise Steel
Schedule First.
IN DEFIANCE OF BRYAN
Sugar and Chemicals May Pre-
cede Wool-Trouble When Ne
braskan Visits Washington.
Iron Tie Tribune Bureau J

Washington. Dec. 2&-Rcpresentstiye
Underwood chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee and chief tarifG-tinker
Of the House, refused TO grow alarmed to-
day over reports that William Jennings
Bryan may attempt TO organize the free
raw wool Democrats Of the House when
tho Peerless One" attends the Jackson
Day dinner I'm Washington on January S.
on tho contrary. Mr.. Underwood min
mizes tho danger Of tho customary Demo-
cratic row. and he had some interesting
observations to make regarding tariff re-
vision. Most significant of all is his state
mcnt that it will require tho Democrats
so long to check up" the Tariff Board ;
report on the wool schedule that the
House probably will revise the Steel
chemical and sugar schedules before tack
ling Schedule *. II this plan goes through
IL may be two months before the Demo-
Gratis report a wool bill. despite the Presi-
dents desire for prompt action. 1t is be
lieved that there is more opportunity to
put the President in a hole" with the
others than with the wool schedule.
Mr.. Undcrwood's determination to re-
wise the steel schedule first is in a meas
ure. too. a sort of comeback at William
Jennings Bryan. At the last session Mr.
Bryan demanded 10 know why the steel
bill had not been reported, and broadly in
timated that it was because Mr.. Under
wood had money invested in steel. and
sso that he feared to antagonize the
principal industry in the Birmingham dis
trict Then Mr.. Underwood arose in the
House and gave the lie direct to the
Peerless Leader" Since that time it has
become fashionable among Democrats 10
disagree with their one-time idol Mr..
Underwood explained that he wanted 10
20 after the steel schedule the first thing
last year, but the majority Of the COM
mittee voted for wool instead.
The proposed revision Of the steel sched-
ulc will follow closely the lines of the
Cummins bill Of last session, which made
reductions Of from 80 TO so per cent. Ac-
cording TO Mr. Underwood the steel bill
will pass the House in January and the
sugar and chemical bills will be out Of the
way before the Ways and Means Com
mittoc win have the measure revising
Schedule Is ready.
Underwood for Duty on Raw Wool.
Nj Underwood declared to-day that he
had not changed i'm his advocacy of Il duty
on raw " wool as a revenue necessary
which practically insures a bill carrying
duty OF about % per cent Oh raw wool,
the protests OF the Bryanites on the COM
mittec Notwithstanding. OF course, the
passage of the Sherwood pension bill will
help some.
Evidently with supreme confidence in the
efficacy Of the Democratic steam roller
Mr.. Underwood said
! haven't heard any serious threats that
the free wool Democrats would make such
q iSht that II may disrupt the party. /
cont appTchcnd any such trouble ! nave
heard that Mr.. Bryan is TO be here on
January g. but ] have no official informa-
ton that be- is 10 attempt 10 rally the be-
understand that VIC will not get the fun
printed report Of the Tariff Board before
January ~. 1t will take several weeks for
our experts to check the figures, so we can
hardly Tcuort n wool bill until some time
in February. In the mean time expect
that the House will rass bills revising the
steel. SUGAR and chemical schedules
Notwithstanding Mr. Underwood's conf
dcucc. it is reported in political circles that
Ar. Bryan will have his war paint on when
ne attends The Jackson Day celebration.
end that he will lingcr in Washington sew
eral DAYS. giving advice" to Representa-
t!ves Ollie James Francis Is. Harrison and
other free wool Democrats.
The minority members OF the Ways and
Means Committee mot to-day and began
work on substitute wool bill TO he pre-
tented in lieu OF the Underwood bill This
hill will be drawn strictly in accordance
with the report Of the Tariff Board, and
will recognize the principle Of protection as
provided for in the platform or the Repub-
licsn party Mr.. Underwood asserted to-day
that the Democrats arc ready 10 90 before
The country on their stand for = tariff for
revenue and the majority will fight all
protective tariff legislation.
Secretsry MacVesgh, presiding over to
days session or the American Economic
Association defended President Tafts