Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-26
RAP FREE LIST BILL
Republicans Ridicule Measure
Affecting Farmers.
QUERIES FROM Mr.. MANN
Floor Leader Calls on the Democrats
to Explain Some Doubtful
Provisions.

The farmers free list bill was assailed
and defended in the House of Represent
atives yesterday. Representative James
r. Mann of Illinois, the republican floor
leader. did most of the assailing. al
though he was ably assisted by Repre-
sentative Gardner of Massachusetts and
several others. Representative Under
wood of Alabama, the ways and means
chairman and majority leader. supported
the measure. as did Representative Adam
son of Georgia. chairman of the inter-
state and foreign commerce committee.
and several of his colleagues.
Mr.. Mann made careful analysis of
the bill, ridiculing its Indebtedness and
calling on the democrats to explain some
of its provisions He demanded that
some democrat explain to him what con-
stituted a prepared cereal food"
He suggested that everybody believed
many breakfast foods could be so de-
scribed.
But how about macaroni?" he asked.
Did the democratic members Of the ways
and means committee consider that We
got over million dollars revenue from
macaroni and vefmicelli last year,
Representative Gardner of Massachu-
sets Interrupted:
II would like to have the gentleman s
distilled rye or corn are prepared cereal
fOods?'
House Has Good Time.
Before Mr. Mann could answer. Repre-.
sentative James, the Kentucky giant.
jumped out of his chair. The House was
enjoying itself
anybody who has ever drunk good
Kentucky whisky he rumbled, knows
that it is not food
"Ah. ha" cried Mr.. Mann. land yet l
have known Kentuckians who regarded it
as both food and drink
here was more laughter and applause
and Representative Stanley Of Kentucky.
defender of meilowed goods at the time
the pure food law was under considera-
ton by the House, jumped to his feet.
The people who drink whisky made in
Peoria. H. he declared with an express
sion of disgust on his face, seldom
know anything at all afterward.'
The bill places farm wagons and farm
carts" on the free list: So Mr.. Mann
demanded to know If the Treasury De-
partment was to follow up the wagon
or cart imported TO see If the farmer
used it In the country or in town.
View Of Mr.. olmsted.
Representative Olmsted Of Pennsyl-
vania suggested that if the term "agri-
cultural implement" were used in a broad
sense the revenues of the government
would be greatly reduced below the
amount the democratic ways and means
committee had estimated.
'Of course, that is self-evident," Mr.
Mann acquiesced.
lone Of the curiosities of legislation"
was the way MT. Mann described that
paragraph of the bill dealing with boots
and shoes. II would not submit the
statement I propose to make he said.
without having first submitted it to
Treasury expert for opinion whether /
was an Internal fool or not"
He went on to say that under the dill
hides of cattle were free, while partly
made up tops Of shoes and patent and
other similar feathers were not. This,
he suggested, would admit the farnlc!
own shoes free, but make him pay duty
on those worn by his wife. The raw
material could be admitted free, but
not.
Thereby helping the American laborer
-nit!' cried Representative Hamilton OF
Michigan amid republican laughter and
applause.
Mr.. Gardner attacked the measure and
the democratic policy of promising to re-
duce the cost of living without reducing
Wages paid in the United States" He
asserted that in putting articles on the
free list the democrats had discriminat-
ed against the farmers and manufacture
ers of the northern states. while leaving
protective duties on tobacco, sugar, rice.
oranges and other articles produced In
the southern states.
Messrs. lAdair Of Indiana, Russell of
Missouri and Adamson of Georgia spoke
in favor Of the measure.