The Washington herald., 1911-08-13

The tarln question Will De i've issue
before both Houses of Congress to-mor-
row. The conferees on the free list bill
decided yesterday afternoon to report
disagreement to the Senate on the House
amendment putting lemons on the free
list and the Kern amendment limiting free
trade in meats and cereals with Canada.
The Senate will vote on these two amend
mentS either to recede from the Kern
amendment and concur in the House
amendment on lemons, or instruct the
Senate conferees to insist that the Kern
amendment remain in the bill and that
the House recede from its amendment
putting lemons on the free list.
Senator La Toilette was absent from
the meeting yesterday on account of
temporary illness. He was at the Senate
early in the morning, but was compelled
to go home before the conference COM
mittee met. The Senator from Wisconsin
is very insistent that the Kern amend
ment remain in the bill, and that the
lemon amendment. put in by the House,
be stricken out There was considerable
speculation yesterday as TO what the at
titude of the Senate will be toward the
reported disagreement.
Changes in the Vote.
1t will be recalled that the motion to
accept the farmers free list bill as IT,
came from the House failed on tie vote.
Since then the Republicans have lost a
seat in the Senate through the death OF
Senator Frye. This is a net loss of one.
II the governor of Maine should appoint
Senator Fryes successor in time 10 en-
able him to present mis- credentials and
qualify Monday, the democrats would
make 4 net gain of one. This would
make L difference of TWO votes.
The presence in Washington OF the
Hon. Hoke Smith. SenatOr-elect from
Georgia, who is still holding the gov
ernor's once in that Commonwealth, with
his credentials as Senator would be
very agreeable sensation to the Demo
Gratis, but they are not hoping for any
good luck Meanwhile. it looks as If
the democrats have lost one vote, due
to the change in sentiment of Senator
simmons, of North Carolina, who voted
for the House free list bill on the pre-
vious vote, but will probably vote against
it on any future vote. If the Democrats
should suddenly decide to reject the Kern
amendment and concur in the House bill,
ii would be a staggering blow to Senator
La Toilette and his insurgent followers.
The Kern amendment was the price
paid for their support and for the sup
port OF Senator Bailey. of Texas. by the
Democrats of tne Senate. and they have
never been entirely satisfied with the bar
gain Even Senator Kern, author of the
amendment, which limits free trade in
meats and cereals to Canada, is reported
to have said yesterday that he would pre-
fer to see the House bill passed than the
Senate measure with his own amendment
attached.
Agreeing Upon Amendments.
The conferees were able yesterday to
. n
into the farmers free list bill by the
Senate. An agreement was reached to
retain the amendment put into the Sem
ate bill on motion of Senator Shively,
Of Indiana. putting binders" in the
list of agricultural implements to be ad-
mitted free This word was added i'm
mediately after the word "harvesters" to
make sure that the implement known as
self binding harvester shall come in
free of duty. Another amendment ac-
cepted by the conferees was one offered
by Senator Gronna in the Senate and
which passed, making all classes of boots
and shoes free. The conferees also
agreed TO Mr.. Gronna amendment plac-
ing on the free list Roman, Portland.
and other hydraulic cement, and lime"
There were interesting interchanges in
the conference committee yesterday. For
example, Senator Bailey observed. ap-
ropos of the attitude of the Senate con-
ferees toward free lemons, that Mr..
Works. of California, has done some
effective work among our Republican al
lies" Again. when Mr.. Underwood
moved to report a partial agreement,
Representative Randell, of Texas, voiced
the fear that the bill might fail in the
Senate. and said that he preferred to
accept the Senate bill rather than get
no free list bill. This moved Senator
Cullom, who was presiding over the con-
ference, to remark that If the matter de-
pended on himself, he would never call
the bill up in the Senate. But the Re
publican members of this committee" re-
marked Mr.. Culom, with twinkle in
his eyes, "are merely passengers"
The Cotton Bill.
The cotton bill was before the Senate
yesterday for a brief time only. Sena-
tor Cummins offered his amendments re-
ducing the duties in the metal schedule.
The amendments are practically the
same he has offered heretofore. Sena-
tor Overman, of North Carolina, offered
an amendment making a complete revi-
sion of the chemical schedule. His
amendment changes specific to ad va
loren duties, and proposes reduction
of 25 per cent all along the line
the cotton bill the unfinished business.
In the House there was considerable
discussion on the point whether the
House should vote first upon the adoption
of the conference report on the wool bill
or whether that duty devolved on the
Senate 1t was finally decided that the
House should act first, and tomorrow
the vote will be taken. 1t is generally
understood that the House will agree to
the report and send the bill to the Sem
ate, where it is expected that 1t will be
promptly agreed to and then be sent to
the President4
The leaders in the House and Senate
were saying yesterday that they were
still confident of an adjournment not later
than next Saturday night and probably
as early as Thursday. The cotton bill is
the disturbing factor: 1t is expected that
the Presidents veto, If promptly commu-
nicated to Congress. will put an end to
the consideration of the cotton bill and
expedite adjournment
ACnrT ON pyTpY YNTTv nYTT