Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-31
PECULIAR POLITICAL coMelNA.
TON IN SENATE AuGERs ILL
FOR PRESENT SCHEDULES.
FREE LIST BILL VOTE
IN SENATE TUESDAY
Measure Will Probably Be Amended to
Elimin ate Free Meats and Free Flour
Senators From Agricultural States
Desire to Protect Farmers From
Dangerous Competition.
rspecia! Correspondence

Ispecia, Correspondence
Washington, July 31-The action OF
the senate in passing bill for reduc'
ton Of the wool duties. by sudden
combina ton of democrats and insur-
gents. plus two regulars. points to fur
ther action by the upper house along
the same lire. AS a matter of fact, II
is looked on now as almost certainty
there will be further tariff revision,
the time Of adjournment is made in
definite. and it is difficult to predict
with any certainty where the over
hauling of schedules will stop.
Next Thursday the senate will take
up the free list bill The indications
are this bill will be passed 1t Will
probably be stripped OF free meats and
free -four. The reason for this Is that
sena tors from agricultural states are
opposed. they say. to opening the doors
to these products and thus injurlng
the farmers OF the country. They say
the farmers have already incurred too
much IN reciprocity and that IL they
have to compete with free meats from
the Argentine and Caribbean and Aus
tralian regions. and with free flour
from the Argentine and elsewhere. they
will be further injured Hence. meats
and -four are likely 10 go out of the
bill and il is probable it will then be
passed.
When the insurgents in the senate
first began casting about TO try TO put
some general tariff legislation thru.
they planned TO use the free list bill
as a vehicle TO carry amendments
which would revise the wool, cotton,
steel and other scheduIes. Then, it was
suddenly found possible TO put the wool
measure thru by itself. The probabiii-
ties are this will result in changing the
whole program. 1t will not be neces-
sary now to use the free list bill as
the vehicle to carry other measures.
The cotton bill will come later than
the free list bill and if need be it can
be used for the purpose Of hitching on
amendments to the steel, sugar and
other schedules.
Just as a wool bill has been passed
by the senate. some of the insurgent
car put thru several more important
bills cutting duties. They think cot
ton bill can undoubtedly be passed.
Nobody doubts that there is lot OF
big politics in the situation. In the
first place, there is much resentment
among some of the senate republicans
over reciprocity They want to strike
at some one. In the second place many
OF the democrats feel it would be good
politics for them Il the president should
veto wool bill. free list bill and per-
haps other tariff reduction bills. In
surgent senator's have no love for Taft
and they will be glad 10 see the presi-
dent wrestle With the question of sign
ing or vetoing bills reducing duties.
Senator LaFollette's friends are jubi-
liant over the situation They point to
him as the general VINO has brought
about the present situation, along with
such democratic field uarshais as John
Sharp Williams. Gore, Bailey and
others. True. Senator Bailey Is not ia
vorable to features OF the free list bill
but he did work for the passage OF
wool bill and he Is expected to favor
reduction of cotton duties
LaFollettes friends insist the whole
situation is calculated to give strength
TO his presidential boom. Senator La
Toilette. however, does not take kindly
10 the idea he Is in the fight for the
sake Of politics. He is saying that he
hopes President Taft will sign such
bills as are passed by congress and that
SO far as he is concerned ne wants
nothing so much as to see tariff reduc-
that without delay.
In the house. there is tremendous
impetus given to the sentiment for gen.
M cir h,-,
senate
Representative Underwood, chairman
Of ways and means, has been trying to
block the house from taking up any
more schedules after the cotton sched-
uie. He succeeded in doing this at the
recent democratic caucus. He defeated
Speaker Clarks purpose to commit the
house 10 further revision either at this
session or next. But Leader Under
wood is now in different position
Many OF the house democrats insist
that Tow the senate has shown 1t can
pass tariff bills. it is up to the house
TO send additional bills to it. Another
caucus OF the house democrats will be
called and it will not be easy for Lead
CT Underwood to prevent a decision to
go forward with revision. Some of the
democrats are saying plainly that he
can not afford TO stand in the way o:
revision of the steel schedule, owing to
the fact that as he comes from the
Birmingham steel district such action
would expose him TO criticism.
Niiiie the belief is widespread tia:
President Taft means TO veto any tariff
bills put UP to him. it is by no means
unanimous Plenty OF senators and rep
sentatlves can be found who say they
do not look for a veto.