Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-30
cuMMINs LEADS OFF
WITH STEEL REVISION
Measure Based on Protective Linss-
Taft Threatens to Veto Tariff Bills
and Democrats Are Willing He
Should Commit Political suieide-No
Action Probable on Some Schedules.
Especial Correspondence

tIle ISdl lIuSSle u tilC Se$oSAoAA VA SAAS
tariff question. All that has gone be-
fore is but the scattering fire of ad-
vance guards coming into contact with
each other, the occasional cracking OF
the small arms of the skirmishers be-
fore the main bodies get into action ana
the artillery begins TO turn loose.
It should be added that after the
heavy fighting in the senate, In case
any bills are passed, there may be ex-
pected something Of struggle In the
conferences Of the two houses 1t is
too early to tell just how serious the
differences Of the two bodies OF con-
gress will be.
cummins Leads OF.
Senator Cumimns will lead off this
week by introducing his measure Tor
revision Of the steel schedule. 1t IS
more correct to say 1t is for the re-
vision of the entire metal schedule. IL
is a measure based on protective lines,
which the senator from Iowa has pre-
pared. 1t will provide for free admls-
sion Of all ores but lead and zinc ana
will pare down the duties on structural
steel and a wide variety of steel ana
metal manufactures. In fact, in a num-
Der of respects it is lower bill than
the bill passed by the house. This is
an interesting proposition for reflection
when it is considered that the house
democratic leaders have prepared their
bill on the tariff for revenue whereas
Senator Cummins has had the pro-
tective principle constantly In mind.
The Iowa senator said that he had
sought to allow protection on all such
articles in the metal schedule as could
be shown to need it. He declared.
moreover. that the metal schedule data
he had in his possession was the most
complete that had ever been available
in a consideration Of this schedule In
either house Of congress.
Senator Cummins will make speech
on tn metal schedule and this is ex-
pected to mark the real opening OF
tariff discussion in the senate this ses-
sion.
Steel, Chemicals and Sugar.
The finance committee has spent q
great deal of time in hearings on the
steel. chemical and sugar schedules but
these hearings are we'll understood to
have meant little. They have been as
perf;,.ctory and useless for the purpose
Of assembling any reliable information
it has been rather by accident than de-
sign that any real information on the
public side Of the questions involved
has been brought out. 1t has been per-
fectlysplain that .he hearings were ar
ranged bv the high tariff senators for
the purpose of getting statements pu:
into the record by interested witnesses
calculated to bolster up high duties.
ho DELAY
The real question Of concern to the
public is what tariff legislation may be
expected to be passed at this session OF
congress.
Taft Has Veto Ready
The indications are that little II any
legislation will be passed, providing
President Taft adheres to his policy
of vetoinz all bills relating to schedules
not yet passed on by the tariff board
The bills that now are pending in the
senate in one way or another are the
metal. sugar, chemical and wool bills.
The metal bill is commonly called the
steel bill.
The house has not yet passed a cot
ton revision bill and 1t is uncertain
whether it will do So The house ways
and means committee has been slow
time il the senate begins to pass tariff
measures the house leaders will be
practically forced to pass cotton bill
and send it to the senate. q
The probabilities today favor the
passage Of steel or metal bill in the
senate, passage Of a sugar bill and
passage Of wool bill. The passage OF
a chemical bill is doubtful. The bill
for revision Of the metal schedule has
at this time more prospect of passing
than either OF the other tariff bills.
senate Democrats for House Bill.
The senate democrats are expected
to support the house metal schedule
bill! The republicans. regular and pro-
gressive. will vote that down. Then,
unless there Is q break in the plans,
the progressive republicans and the
democrats, with few exceptions. will
unite to pass the Cummins metal
schedule bill or one closely akin to 1t.
It has to be understood, however, that
the arrangement Of alliances between
the sentae progressive republicans and
the senate democrats on tariff is
ticklish business. One never knows how
long an alliance will stay put" One
day the machinery for an alliance may
All be well-oiled and in admirable
working order The next day, all the
apparatus may creak and strain and
become utterly unmanageable. One
|of the ever present obstacles in the
way OF getting any tariff legislation
this session is the general feeling OF
members of house and senate Of want
ing to get back home, to their districts
or their states.
Outbreak Of Political NestaIsia.
It has seldom happened that the out
break Of political nostalgia was 50 Sc
we're at both ends Of the capitol as 1t Is
at present. All but q few indefatigable
workers for legislation are obsessed
with the microbe.
However, the indications now favor
passage OF steel bill by the senate.
Then comes up the question whether
the house democratic leaders will ac-
cept the senate bill or go far enough in
compromise to. insure passage Of q
steel bill Rumors are current that the
mouse leaders do not want to let any