Evening star., 1911-08-17
TO ACT ON COTTON
Vote on Bill Will Be Taken at
Present Session.
LONG CAUCUS MEETING
Senate Democrats Decide to Accept
La Toilette Amendment.
HOUSE MAJORITY Is IN ACCORD
Decision to Continue to Put Tariff
Legislation Through Ends Early
Adjournment Hopes.
HOUSE MAJORITY IS IN ACCORD,

The democratic Sena torial caucus after
two strenuous sessions lasting from 10
O'Clock in the morning until after I
| O'Clock last night, with a short inter
mission decided that the cotton bill
should be voted upon at the present ses-
sion of Congress. The caucus also de-
cided to accept the La Toilette steel and
iron schedule as an amendment to the
cotton BILL and Senator Overmans S
amendment revising the chemical sched-
ule. or so much Of 1t as relates to the
cotton manufacturing industry.
The decision of the Senate democrats
to continue, with the aid of the republi-
can insurgents. to put tariff legislation
through the Senate at this session was
reached after it had been learned from
Representative Underwood, majority
leader in the House. that this course
would be acceptable to the House demo-
Gratis.
Early Adjournment Fades.
With this decision on the part of the
Senate and House democrats hopes of ad-
journment before the end of another
week or ten days went a-glimmerins. Mr..
Underwood, who Is chairman of the ways
nounced his committee would have to
consider the steel and iron and chemical
schedules. and that this would take some
little time, but added that the commit
tee had already done much work along
this line of investigation and would be
able to report sooner than otherwise.
The democratic caucus. beginning with
d wide divergence of opinion and many
sharp clashes as to whether even the
cotton bill itself should be acted upon.
al i,l, nnt
take d vote on the House cotton bill, but
to amend I and to add the steel and iron
schedule.
Senators Simmons and Overman of
North Carolina, Foster and Thornton OF
Louisiana and Johnston and Bankhead
of Alabama made vigorous protest
against action on cotton during the pres
ent session~~<Senator Williams of Missis-
sippi took especial exception to the propo-
sition to attach the steel schedule. en-
phasizing the opinion that to attempt to
do so would be an embarrassment to
Chairman Underwood of the House ways
and means committee. in view of the
criticisms of William j. Bryan.
Underwood in Accord.
senators that lie not only would not be
embarrassed by the Sen ties Incorporation
of steel in the cotton bill, but he would
be delighted at such action. With the re-
port of this committee before it, the eau
Gus had little difficulty in deciding to at
tach to the bill steel and iron schedules,
materially reducing the duties.
1t was thus comparatively easy to reach
an agreement on vote on the cotton bill
itself, which. of course, would be neces-
sary to bring in the steel bill as an
amendment 1t was decided that a vote
should be taken first on the House cotton
bill, and that, in case of its defeat, which
is anticipated. some senator. possibly Sen
ator La Toilette, should move the recon-
sideration of the House measure as was
done with other tariff bills recently, and
thus pave the way for action the La
Toilette cotton bill, which, it is under
stood. will be presented as a substitute
for the House measure