Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-12
REAL STRUGGLE OF SESSION
PENps !N SENATE OVER HOUSE
REVENUE MEASURES.
DEBATE IN UPPER HOUSE
NOT LIMITED az RULES
to Talk Bills to Death
Committee to Make Adverse Report
on Steel and senats Certain to De-
feat Measure Calling for Free Sugar
Status Of Income Tax.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, March 1.-THE real
struggle Of the session in the senate is
about to begin. 1t will be over the
tariff question and will involve the
fate in congress Of the various tariff
bills which have been sent to the
senate from the house and that will
shortly be sent there.
One of the bitterest struggles Of re-
cent years in the senate over the tar
if question is likely before the tar
III measures are disposed of. AS mat
ter Of fact, all the real fighting that has
occurred in congress over the tariff in
the last three years has been in the
senate. The fact that house debate is
limited and that senate debate is un-
limited has served to make the SEN
ate the forum where controversies and
conflicts of opinion over schedules have
been aired. It will be so again this
session
The senate has been tagging along
doing little hard work thus far in the
session Apparently senators have
been holding back and saving up their
energies for the trouble which they
have seen to be ahead
Adverse Report on Steel.
1t is already settled the finance COM
mittee viii report the steel revision bill
adversely. The report is expected to
be presented to the senate without
much dlay. In two weeks or less, the
fight over the steel bill will probably
open in the senate.
One contingency would serve to avoid
much of a senate struggle. This would
be an agreement between the progress
sives and the regulars on a steel re-
vision hill and on other tariff matters.
While Chairman Penrose Of the finance
committee and Senator Snloot Will con-
fer with Senator Cummins and other
progressive republicans about sched-
ules, and especially about the stee!
schedule, the indications are there will
be no agreement. 1t is certain there
will be no agreement unless 1t COM
prehenGs some revision this session
without waiting on the slow processes
Of the tariff board.
No Coalition In Sight.
Just now, the senate democrats and
thep rogressiye republicans do not ap-
pear to be near together on steel bill
orFSnything else. But the chances are
they will be before the session gets
much older. If it is found the pro-
gressiye republicans and the high tar
if republicans can not agree on a
tariff program, then the progressives
will fight for tariff legislation. espe-
cially on steel and sugar as we'll as on
a., nd
will adopt a program of their own as
to these schedules and will make
hard campaign to win. In view Of the
success Of the insurgents in recent
wears in shaping legislation in the SEN
ate in spite of their lack Of preponder-
ance over the regulars in numbers, 1t
may be expected they will not be en-
tirely wanting in success this session
What seems likely to happen on the
steel bill is that the democrats, after
trying to crowd thru the house bill and
failing. will put thru the senate bill
by Cummins which will stand inter-
mediate between the present schedule
and the house bill If the house &C
eepts such legislation. as it is expected
to, the president will be given a chance
to veto a steel revision measure on
the eve of presidential convention.
Senate Will Defeat Free Sugar.
No likelihood appears now of the
free sugar bill getting thru the senate.
The progressives and the democrats
may agree, however, on bill which
will lower duties. strike out the exist
ing differential between raw and re-
fined suger and abolish the Dutch
standard color test. A flat rate of duty
may be decided on or a duty graduated
according to sugar content Of the
sugar imported. 1t may be added that
there is the widest variation in the ac-
tual sugar or sweetness in different
kinds and grades of sugar
When the house bill to extend the
tax reaches the senate eff
forts will doubtless be made to sub
stitute a general income tax measure.
The progressives are expected to have
a program Of their own on wool and
cotton but it is entirely uncertain at
this time whether the progressives and
democrats can agree on these sched-
ules. Much will depend on whether
a progressive democratic alliance is
formed with success on the steel bill