New-York tribune., 1912-04-06
STRIKES At STEEL BILL
Senate Committee Reports House
Measure Adversely.
ITS FINAL FATE IN DOUBT
Insurgents at Odds Over Certain
Provisions and Nothing
May Be Done.
from The Tribune Bureau.

Washington. April 5.--The House bill re-
vising the metal schedule was reported 10
The Senate to-day adversely by Senator
Penrose. chairman of the Commlttee Oh
Finance. Senator simmons, ranking Dem
ooratic member Of the committee In the ao-
sence of Senator Bailey, announced 'ial '"e
minority members would file report next
v.o,. snd Senator Cummins, author OF the
ineurgent steel hill which met with a ois-
as,roIls fate during the last session OF Con-
press, said he would submit some amend
ments before vote was taken Oh the
measure.
Senator Cummins. addressing Senator
penrosc. expressed the hope that the SEN
ator in charge of the hill would call UP
the measure for early consideration.
I'm view or the fact that the report is an
adverse one. replied Mr.. Penrose, / d'n I
think the appeal can be directed 10 me 70
urge consideration Of IT,"
Senator simmons joined Senator Cum
minis, however. in placing responsibility Tor
the conduct ~ debate on the bIh upon
Senator Penroso, who agreed that the SEN
ate should act promptly and dispose OF the
question.
There is much doubt as 10 the fate or me
metal bill. The insurgents are at ODDS over
the free iron and lead and zinc provisions
which are not likely 10 receive genera aP-
rrovsl in Wisconsin. Wyoming. Idaho' Mill
nesota or Montana, ant there is m"c"
foundation for tho prediction that thelc
will he no tariff legislation at the present
session
Would Be Breach Of Faith.
Tbo majority report. signed ny all the Re-
,,,,hlicau members OF the committee except
NJ Ia Toilette. denouncos the bill as i'll
advised and unfortunate The report says:
No report has been made by the Tarlh
Board created by the President. under au-
fhCritv given by Congress I'm the tarlt act
of 1870 FOR the express purpose OF obtain
ing such facts with respect 10 any par
rIcular industry as would enable congress
10 proceed with certainty and intelligence
An cDactinL legislation lcNNiGg duties on the
products Of that industry. The reports
made by this board, notably mat on me
wool schedule are the most exhaustive
and comprehensive ever compiled on Inc
subjects TO which they relate. constant
nr frequent revisiOuS Of tariff rates, Whcth-
or upward or downward, cause business
disouierudc and staguation. and manuiact-
urcrs merchants and traders We're Ieu
70 believe, by the creation OF me 1allll
BOARD for the express purpose OF carelui
and exhaustive inquiry into industrial con-
ditions as a precedent 10 tariff legislation
that there would he no PERCEPTIONS hap
hazard revision II existing schedules To
enact this bill. making such revision.
would - breach Of faith-a violation Of
what was tantamoUnt to guarantee 10
Tne people that the tariff act Of 1903 would
not be disturbed except upon information
reported 10 Congress by that board.
II is declared that the passage OF the bill
would tend 10 DESTROY ono Of the most Inn
portant Industries of this country. The
committee contends that hearings Of 2ij
different industrial concerns in eighteen
states showed p widespread opposition TO
revision of the present rates. and that rep
resentatives of 225 manufacturers Of ma
chine tools testified that putting machine
tools on the free list would compel the clos
ing Of their factories.
The report saws that the Ways and Means
CCmnittee's estimate that importation'
would De increased $25,Oo00Oo annually, 4
correct, would mean that foreign iron anC
steel products were 10 displace American
manufactures IN the domestic markets, anC
that even with the increased lmportation'
there would he a deficit In revenues o
more than 81, 10000. II says, in conclusion
Your committee submits. therefore tha
the enactment of this hill would he i'll ad
Nised and most unfortunate legislation. L
would reuuCo the measure Of protection be
low the margin Of safety, opening wide oul
domestic markets 10 foreign steel and iror
products. IL Is not only unprOtectiYe, bu
also fails az a revenue measure as j
would result in deficit for which no pro
vision is made: il is not based upon oper
hearings or upon any investigation of man
ufacturing conditions, labor cost or othe
facts necessary to he known: II is not re-
sponsive to any need or necessity for a gen
era revision Of the rates of the presen
Schedule {, and should not, therefore, To-
tod