The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-02
Democrats R efuse to
Support Free Raw 4
Wool Program.
ALL OBJECTIONS
ARE DISPOSED OF
BY s'h lnreW Manoeuvring Party
Leaders Get Underwood Bill
Through, While Not Bind
ing Members to It's Sup
port as Definite Tariff
Principle.

revision OF the wool tariff-the Under
wood bill--was unanimously approved
by full Democratic caucus at mid
night. twelve hours after II had been
made public by the Ways and Means
Committee. Its Endorsement followed
some rapid manoeuvring by the Demo
cratic House leaders, who Devised 1;
scheme which cflcctually disposed OF
the opposition OF the free wool advo-
! Gates. Through u resolution, which
leaves the Democratic party open in
the future TO renew it's advocacy OF
Tree trade in raw wool. but which
commits all Democrats to the support
OF the present bill as a revenue meas
I ure, the divergent interests were
brought together in the caucus short
\ ~ before midnight and an almost
unanimous agreement was reached
III The final vote on the approval of
the Underwood bill was made iunant-
nous. but the following members we're
excused from pledge TO support the
{. caucus action: Represe ntativcs Rucls-
Ber. Colorado: Ashbrook. Francis and
sharpe. Ohio. and Graz. Indiana
\ Introduced by kitchin.
The resolution agreed OIL In a con-
ference OF the free raw wool advo-
Gates was introduced in the caucus
by Representative Kitchin OF North
Carolina, who had advocated free raw
wool. His resolution declared that''th
. support OF a duty on raw wool should
not be construed as an abandonment
OF the Democratic policy OF free wool.
The need for duty, the resolution
stated. was due TO Republican oetrava-
Gences. which made necessary large
revenues. Sneaker Clark took the moor
Immediately and supported the reso-
luton. which had been framed in the
conference participated In by himself
& I'D Iln.1 80 49,. ~ .H =
Texhs; James, OF Kentucky: Fitzgerald
of New York. and kitchin, OF North
) Carolina. The resolution was NJ then
unanimously adopted b. the caucus.
Opening with the statement iron,
Chairman Underwood of the Ways and
Means Committee, that 20 per cent
duty on raw wool is necessary TO in
sure SUFFICIENT revenues for the gov
eminent. the fight over the revised
wool tariff begani In the caucus Adj
lvocates OF free raw wool backed by
7 the open support OF William Jennings
Bryan. offered amendments putting
wool Immediately upon the free list
or proposing gradual reduction that
would abolish the entire duty within
hve years. While direct reference
TO Nv Bryan by name was not made
by Chairman Underwood or others who
spoke during the day in favor of the
20 per cent. duty. they replied to
these free wool Democrats by pointing
out the absolute necessity for small
duty on raw wool
.s Gives Complete Text.
Chairman Underwood gave the
complete text OF the proposed re-
vision OF the wool tariff to 200 Demo-
Gratis who assembled In the party
caucus a. noon 1t proposes n duty
of 90 per cent. on rev wool, re-
duction OF more than so per cent.
from the Payne-Aldrich law. now in
force.
AS soon as he had concluded his
opening speech, Mr. Harrison. OF New
York. oHered an amendment that
would abolish the duty on wool in Ave
years. It proposed a gradual reduc-
tion each year for the five-year period
MIR. Harrison declared this was the
4 true Democratic principle of tariff
making to put on the free list raw
material SO universally used.
Mr. Randell, OF Texas. followed with
an amendment for the Immediate
adjustment OF the entire duty on raw
wool
Mr. Underwood was confident that
the friends OF the bin would outnum-
( Der the free wool advocates four to
one. The latter had no hope of fore
ing change in the structure of the
bill. but proposed to fight against the
.
the caucus action on the floor OF the
House
The new duties. together with the
present duties, as figured on an ad
valorem basis by Chairman Underwood,
are:
lais Combed wool or tops-Proposed duty.
% per cent; existing duty, 1859 per
cent. Yarns made wholly or in part of
wool-Proposed duty, 80 per cent; ex-
listing duty S233 Dcr cent sg
Cloths. knit fabrics and all manufac-
lures of wool-Proposed duty. 40 per
cent; existing duty, Oil per cent.
Blankets and hannels-P Proposed
/ duty,s0 per cent, when valued at less
than 80 cents per pound AZ per cent
when valued al more than so cents per
pound: existing duty 1851 per cent.
Women's and children's dress goods
I and similar goods-Proposed duty. As
per cent; existing duty. 102.S5 per cent.
Ready-made clothing and articles of
wearing ,apnarel-Proposed duty, 40
per cent; existing duty, S1.31 per cent.
III Braids, ribbons. insertions, laces, en-
broideries. nettings and like articles,
wholly or in part made of wool-Pro-
posed duty, 50 per cent; existing duty.
87.o6 per cent. g
Reduction of SLED 900.
The various kinds of csaspets are re-
duced approximately SO per cent. The
pioEoSeu WoOl ,tuTlIL representa- reOUc-
tionigof only s1,a50,o00 in the revenues
of the Il government. according to a
statement presented to the caucus by
Chairman Underwood. Imports of
wool for the past year amounted to
s $70,744,65o,l and the Democratic load
sr's 4estimat to that the reduction In tar
In will so stimulate Importation that
the first year under the proposed duties
would result in the Importation OF
$40. 8s2,oo0 worth OF wool.