Evening star., 1912-11-18
MANY DEMOCRATS FOR
A GENERAL TARIFF BILL
Form of Revision Will Be a
Matter for Long Conference
Among Leaders.

The form that tariff revision is to take
before the special session of Congress
next spring has become a matter of
strong individual opinion among demo-
cratic senators and members of the
House now here. Representative Under
wood, democratic House leader who will
reach Washington this week, has given
no indication as yet of his own plans,
and it is expected that democatic leaders
will confer at length over the situation
before advising Mr.. Wilson of any tenta-
tive arrangements.
Many members now favor a general
bill, covering many or all schedules of the
tariff law, to be framed as a partial or
complete substitute for the Payne-Al-
drich law. Those who advance this plan
claim it would be the speed est way of
fulfilling tariff pledges. Others favor
combining in a single bill those measures
passed during the last two years but ve-
toed by President Taft, and the prepara-
ton of other single schedule bills to fol-
low this measure.
May Meet Before April Is.
Unless the plan to revise the entire tar
lift law in a single bill should be adopted.
1t Is believed democratic leaders will urge
the calling of the special session before
April 10. That date was set by Mr. Will
son the latest upon which he would
assemble the new Congress. Democrats
now here believe the new House can be-
gin work in March. soon after the present
administration retires from power, and be
organized and ready for tariff legislation
early in April.
1t is expected that short hearings will
be given by the House ways and means
committee to Industries vitally affected
by proposed tariff changes. The extent
OF these hearings, according to demo-
cratic members Of the House who favor
them, will not be such AS to interfere
with early action on the tariff bills
Distribution of Schedules.
The plan of distributing the various
tariff schedules among subcommittee of
the ways and means committee, which
was resorted TO last year, was found
to operate satisfactorily, both i'm saving
time and in obtaining the information
necessary to the work of the committee,
and it is expected that this eXpedient
will be adopted again.
Senator Gore expressed the opinion that
the entire tariff revision should be ended
UelOTe next july, permitting the lnau-
guration of the new schedules with the
beginning of the fiscal year, July 1. To
secure perfect cooperation between House
and Senate Senator Gore said he prob
ably would suggest joint steering COM
mittee of members of the two houses to
act together during the approaching short
session in the formulation of tariff
mea sure for the extra session.
In that way he said, I'VE could in
sure the drawing of bill that would re-
ceive the support of both Houses from the
start, saving the loss of much time in
subsequent conferences"
Purpose of Republicans.
1t is not the purpose of the republic
cans to allow the democratic program
to be put through without remonstrance.
They will ask hearings on many of the
schedules, and republican Senate leaders
expect to be able to make effective oppo-
sition in many instances.
The democrats cannot get a free sugar
bill through the Senate said Senator
Smoot of the finance committee. He
based his pre- dict.o on the understand
ins, that the Louisiana senators are sure
that there We're other democrats who
would stand out aSainst that and other
contemplated changes.