The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-02-01
WORK ON TARIFF
FIRST ARGUMENT WILL UPHOLD
UNDERWOOD sTEEL-iRoN
SCHEDULE.
FINISH WOOL
Bill Says Steel Industry So Great Aid
Not Needed-Republicans Will
Have No Substitute, but Many
Amendments.

Washington, D. c. - The tariff re-
vision debates of the s~ixty-second con-
gress will begin in the house when
Representative Mitchell Palmer of
Pennsylvania will open the argument
In favor Of the steel and iron schedule
reported by Chairman Underwood of
the ways and means committee.
The attitude of the Republicans to-
ward the Democratic revision program
was indicated at a meeting of the COM
moved that consideration of the iron
and steel schedule be deferred until a
report had been received from the tar
iff board. This was lost by a strict
party vote. The Republican members
indicated that there would be no Re-
publican substitute for the Democratic
bill, but a long string of amendments
would be offered.
That the Democrats have practically
completed the wool schedule was dis
closed when Representative Payne
moved that Schedule X, as drawn By
Mr.. Underwood and his colleagues" be
redrafted to conform with the report
Of the tariff board submitted in De-
cember. This motion was lost also by
4 straight party vote.
Senator Smoot is preparing a bill
along the lines of the tariff board re-
port.
Following the passage of the steel
bill, the ways and means committee
will introduce the chemical and then
the sugar schedules. Both are nearly
ready for a Democratic caucus The
cotton schedule will be taken up next.
Chairman Underwood estimates these
will be all that a be handled at this
session, but II there is time for more
The agricultural schedule will be con-
,idered.
Both majority and minority reports
we're filed in the house with the steel
dill.
On a Revenue Basis.
In their report to the house, the
Democratic members of the committee
declared:
"A survey of the iron and steel in
lustry shows that 1t has reached a
position Of such strength that the in
iustry does not need the helping hand
Of the government to compete with
foreign countries. The committee feels
warranted in recommending that the
luties on metals be placed upon a dis
:inctly revenue basis, while definitely
idhering to the object of securing for
he treasury an income as large as can
De obtained consistent with conserv-
ing the general interests of the con-
sumers."
The report cites both Judge Gary
If the steel corporation and Andrew
Carnegie to show that the steel indus
try has grown up" and is out of the
infant industry" class.
Duties should be low enough to al
Iow potential competition" by for
eign producers, the report asserts, in
order naturally to regulate domestic
prices"
"Such competition" the Democrats
declare, will probably encourage i'm
ports, affect domestic prices in the in
.erest Of the people. and encourage
the development of the industry by
making more nearly normal the con
ditions of supply and demand"
Washington, ID. G. Although
their steel and iron tariff reduction bill
confronts a veto when it reaches
President Taft, no matter how the bill
may go through the house and how 1t
may be changed in the senate, Chair
man Underwood and his colleagues of
the ways and means committee are
preparing to press the bill through the
house.
The Republican members of the
committee were startled when a re-
port was circulated that Mr.. Under
wood was preparing to rush the bill
through before Saturday night and
that every amendment which might be
offered by the Republicans would meet
with vigorous opposition by the Demo.
Gratis. Representatives Payne, Dalzell
and Mccall of the Republican minor.
ity end o. the committee went at once
W luc WHitC IlOucc " Univ viii
President Taft and to ascertain in ad'
vance just what the president thinks
of the Democratic steel bill and the
plan to rush it through without await.
ing a report from the tariff board.
1t is understood that the president
assured the Republican committee
men that any iron and steel tariff re
duction bill Of the kind and complex.
ion now proposed by the Democrats
would meet the same fate at his hands
as did the wool, cotton and other tariff
bills passed 1t the special session last
summer, unless 1t shall be approved
by the tariff board.
The Republicans are preparing to
attack the steel and iron tariff reduc
immigration Gains 512,085.