The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-07
Ways and Means Committee Meets and Discusses
 Tariff Measures
NAVAL CONTROVERSY
 TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Lorimer's Attorneys Begin Fight To Justify Him Before Committee. Rockefeller Invited To
 Testify

 Bodkin of Meade, Colo. told the so-called sugar trust Investigating committee of the House that sugar derelcts created from the slums were kept practically in state of bondage. His statement caused a wild sensation.
 MT. Bedkin described a system of con tract labor in the Colorado fields and de- tailed the hardships he charged were in- { ficted on working people recruited by the Great Western Sugar company. He said that a man, his wife and several chil- dren, ranging from S. years up, would put in from ten to sixteen hours day :" at .'backbreaking work which an Ameri- can would scorn to do.
 The committee took great interest in his description of the 'slum labor Democrats led by Representative Raller of California sought to show by the wit ness that the tariff protection levied in the name of American labor did not reach down to the Russians and Hindoos who worked in the Colorado beet fields; the republicans Representative Fordney, IIfnds and Malby. emphasized the point that Americans would not descend to the labor
 How much does woman earn in the field?" asked MT. Hinds.
 'sI don't know" answered the witness. '"she is better worker than the men he is generally the boss-the women and the children do the work
 MT. Bodkin expressed the belief of the committee of farmers, of which he Is a member, that the sugar company was not paying 8 fair price for beets. , '.If the tariff is of any benefit, the sugar company gets it." said the witness. Before w. P. Willet, New York sugar expert, left the witness stand, he de- scribed the sugar trade of Denmark for the committee. He recommended the adoption of the Dannish system of inter- nal taxation and encouragement of the beet sugar industry by the United States. He said if this were done, sugar would be I 9 cents per pound cheaper In the United states although the internal rev enue rate of taxation would be 49 cents per hundredweight This tax would yield ss5,D00oOO of revenue to the government, which now raises S53 000,000 on the import tax on sugar. He said, answering Rep resentative Fordney, that he had not con 
 of living in Denmark as compared with the United States.
 MT. Wllet will be called later to de- scribe the sugar trade in other countries.
 Ways and Means Committee
 The first meeting of the democratic members Of the House committee on ways and means since adjournment of aet ha1 Chairman Underwood and his col leagues discussed the general tariff sit uation and considered the plan of action for the session.
 The committee will begin at once the preliminary work of revising schedules. Included in the programme for tariff revision will be wool, cotton, iron and steel sugar and agricultural implements and food stuffs.
 A scheme. to link some of the schedules already passed at the extraordinary ses- N sion, but vetoed by the President into oneo omnibus tariff bill has been dis cussed by some of the leaders in Con- gress.
 It was insisted that the committee idea of revision schedule by schedule would be carried out. It was stated also no report from the committee is likely be- fore the middle of January.
 A Heflin of Alabama and referred to the committee, provides for placing on the free list agricultural implements to re- dound to the credit of the farmers, cot ton ties and bagging.
 Naval Controversy
 Controversy over the replacing of Rear Admiral Nicoson chief of the burau of navigation of the Navy Department by Commander Philip Andrew, naval aide to Secretary Meyer. which already has spread from naval circles to mem bers of the House naval affairs commit- tee, today was carried to the White House. President Taft may have to take hand in the settlement of the affair.
 Rear Admiral Nicholson has only served two years of the usual four years $ term ot the bureau of navigation when he was transferred ito the command of s the Asiatic fleet. President Taft ap- proved this as well as Secretary Meyers decision to appoint Commander Andrew of chief of the bureau, an office hereto. sfore always filled by the rank of rear admiral.
 According to Admiral Nicholson $ friends in Congress, he was practically deposed from the bureau and they have rallied to his support. Representative Foss of Illinois, ranking republican mem Der of the naval affairs committed and Representatives Dalzell of Pennsylyania and Weeks of Missouri called upon the President today and laid the case be- fore him. Shortly after the congressional delegation called the President summoned Secretary Meyer. That bureau needs feorganizaticn, explained the secretary, and l intend to have 1t reorganized MT. Meyer admitted the change might be delayed until the controversy blew over.
 LOrimer Probe
 Senator Lorimer's lawyers today be- gan laying the foundation of his de- fense before the Senate committee which is Investigating his election by introducing witnesses to refute the tes- timony of Charles A. White, former member of the Illinois legislature, who made so-called confession of having accepted a bride to vote for MT. Lori her for United States senator
 Frederick Seenter, a salesman, was |. Nlled to testify to an alleged conversa- n l%vh with White in August. 1909. Seem r ter and William Sturner, another wit ness, testified White had been drinking -~>~~~-~> ----~~
 &CONTINUED ON FACE sl