Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-24
DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE PREL,Ml-
NARY PLANS WHEN THEY
COME INTO POWER.
PoP.GuN BILLS READY
FOR CAMPAIGN MATERIAL
Democrats Planning to Make Issue On
Which to Conduct 1912 Contest
President TAFT May Refuse to Fur.
nish Facts Cleaned BY Tariff Board
-othsr Washington News.
Especial Correspondence

washington Jan. 24.-Representat1Ve
Oscar Underwood, Of Alabama, chair
man Of the ways and means committee
which will make the tariff record on
which the democrats will go before the
country in the presidential election in
1912, will have series Of pop-gun tar
/ iff bills ready for the consideration OK
the Sixty.Second congress when It
meets next December. This is the de-
cision reached by Mr.. Underwood after
an informal conference with the demo-
cratic leaders In the house and with
the members OF the committee who will
serve with him. The decision means
that Senator Baileys desire to have the
tariff revised en- bloc, will be ignored
by the house. 1t means also that the
, democrats are convinced that the best
way to perfect the tariff is to revise 1t
in manner which will reduce log
rolling to minimum.
Mr. Underwood said today that his
committee will hold its first meeting
next Friday. At that time plans will be
made for the work OF investigation.
Going After Graft.
Underwood, that the democratic
members Of the tentative ways and
means committee will not have an OPP
portunity to look into the tariff situa-
ton until after congress adjourns on
March T. SO far as I know every
member OF the committee Is agreed
that that we shall begin our work as
soon after that date as possible. We do
not anticipate that It will be necessary
to hold hearings. altho I do not mean
to say that manufacturers and import
ers will not be given an opportunity to
present facts to the committee. 1t does
not seem necessary. however, to hold
public hearings extending over many
weeks. The evidence brought out at
the hearings on which the Payne bill
was based gives every one. good idea
Of the subject and Of the conditions IN
this country. What this committee Will
be interested in will be getting the
graft out Of the tariff.
Democrats who served on the ways
and means committee while the Payne
bill was being framed have a we'll de-
fined idea as 70 where that graft Is
and they will have no difficulty in ind
ing II. expect that whom the new
congress meets next December Will
be ready to introduce tarin bill re-
vising one schedule, TO be followed by
other tariff bills from time to time"
Way May Be Closed.
There is some curiosity among dem
ocrats as to whether they will have an
opportunity to avail themselves OF the
inform alton in the possession OF the
tariff board. Under the law the board
can not divulge the Information gath
cred by 1t except on direction Of the
president. In view OF the fact that the
Underwood committee will be entirely
unofficial there is some doubt as to
whether the president would feel called
upon 70 issue the necessary order.
All Of the members OF the new ways
and means committee will begin to
draw government pay on March 4, but
they will not actually become members
Of the house until the first Monday
in December and will not take the oath
Of office until that date. 1t Is because
OF this fact that the committee will be
unable to avail itself OF the services
Of the clerks now employed by the
WAYS and means committee. Mr.. Un-
derwood is authority for the statement
that the democrats will not let up In
their work because OF this peculiar sit
uation.
III the president wishes to issue an
order authorizing the tariff board to
submit its information to the demo-
Gratis we will be glad to have It. but
we also will want their source Of In
formation, not because we want to
make II public but because we want
all the information, and not conclu-
| sions."
Each member Of the new ways and
means committee will be called upon
to share the expense Of employing sta
tisticians and whatever other clerical
| assistance Is necessary from March
until congress convenes next Deem