The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-20
Sharp Contest Over Important
Measures
HENRY FORCED TO WITHDRAW
Money Trust Resolution-Clash on over
Schedule A, But Debate Proceeds
Tariff Bill Probably Will
Pass Early.

Washington, Feb. 20--For the first
time this session, the House opened a
strenuous week of work, with all party
and factional lines sharply drawn. A
brisk contest over the money trust reso-
luton was followed by an equally brisI;
contest over the amount of time to he
spent on the chemical schedule. After
the reading of the minutes, Representa-
tive Henry of Texas called up his PRIV
LEGGED resolution ordering the committee
on banking and currency to hold hear
ings on the control of credit. Immedi
ately Representative Dalzell made the
point of order that the full committee
had not passed upon the resolution.
With Mr.. Henry holding the floor, beth
the regulars, represented by Mr. Dalzell,
the insurgent Republicans represented by
Mr.. Lenroot of Wisconsin and Mr. Norris
of Nebraska, as well as leader Under
wood himself, entered the fray The
short running debate centered ostensibly
on the question of the division of time,
but it was evident that the conservative
forces of both parties desired delay. For
a moment Mr.. Henry, who ii not Il good
manager, wavered, and Mr. Underwood,
stepping into the breach, brought order
out of chaos Mr.. Henry was forced to
withdraw his resolution for the day.
The second incident took place when
schedule A, according to the agreement
OF Saturday, came before the House and
the motion was made to resolve the
House into the committee of the whole
on the state of the union. Here again
the Underwood "steam roller" steamed
up and suppressed Republican desire for
debate. Mr.. Dalzell, acting as ranking
member of the minority of the ways and
means committee. spared for time, pro-
testing that such an important schedule
should not be rammed through with only
a few hours on a side.
Mr.. Underwood quietly insisted, how.
ever, yielding only after a half-hour from
his original demand. So at 1890 Rep
resentative Burton Harrison OF New
York, chairman of the subcommittee
(which framed the bill, opened thu seven
hour debate. The regular Republicans,
restricted to an unusually short period,
I began to readjust their forces to the
new conditions. The bill should pass on
a roll-call early in the evening.
E The bill would reduce existing chemi
cal and drug duties an average of sixteen
per cent. and increase government rev.
enue about $3,000,000. Mr.. Harrison said
the partial report OF the tariff board on
che chemical industry had been of great
service to the Democrats in making their
revision.
"Do you not think, then, that the tar
if board should be continued" asked |
Representative Hamilton, Republican, of |
Michigan.
II should be in favor of board Of |
technical experts attached to the ways /
and means committee" said Mr.. Harri- |
son, "but | do not favor the continual
tion of presidential board, however +
high the individual merits of It's mem
bers, if the board is to be used as it has
been in the past to impede downward
revision of the tariff" Democrats ap.
plauded this expression vigorously.
''Do you think the tariff board wool
report impeded the revision of the wool
tariff asked Representative Mccall OF
Massachusetts,.
II do" said Mr.. Harrison, Il think
that report is a mere pretense.'
Representative Harrison explained
many OF the increases in the duties on
drugs and medicines by saying that these
articles are controlled by combinations
in this country and increased tariff would
not affect the prices.