New-York tribune., 1912-01-27
TARIFF DEBATE OPENED
Steel and Iron Bill Brought Out
by Democrats.
REPUBLICANS RIDICULE IT
Passage Expected Tonight or
Monday-Senate Insurgents
May Help.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau J

Wnsbir gton. Jan. S-With Democrats IN
Weighing against the Tariff Board ana 'he
PAYNE law. and Republicans scoring the
majority for its loose methods In tarln re-
vision. the House entered to-day on its
long grind Of tariff debate. Representative
Underwood called up the bill reducing the
duties on steel and iron, and at the outset
the debate took a political turn, confirming
the predictions that the Democrats VIII
wage the approaching national campaign
from the floor Of the House and through
the franked Congressional Record"
In a three-hour speech Representative
Palmer. a Pennsylvania Democrat, dis
cussed everything, from the prohts OIL
Pittsburgh millionaires TO the manufacture
of needles. Representative Bartlett OF
Georgia, played second fiddle, and made a
characteristic Democratic effort to JUSTIFY
the alleged justice OF the indiscriminate
reductons-made without the aid of scien-
tlhc information-in the duties on steel
Mr.. Palmer made a direct bid for insur-
gent support in the Senate, asserting that
the rates in the pending Democratic bill
did not travel far enough beyond the des-
tination OF the Cummins amendment Of last
session TO frighten the supporters Of that
proposition"
Representative Dalzell and other minor
ity speakers arraigned the Democrats for
their lack OF consideration Of the large In
dustries of the country, their determination
20 revise the tariff haphazard and their re-
fusal TO await investigation by tho Tariff
Board, a body created and appropriated for
with the aid of Democratic votes Mr.
Dalzell quoted from magazine article IN
which Woodrow Wilson, now Democratic
Presidential hope, attacked the method OF
making tariff bills in committee rooms and
in party caucus, without opportunity OF
debate or serious consideration in the
House.
THAT was written by the then President
Of Princeton" said Mr.. Dalzell, amid
laughter and applause from the minority
side. THAT is what he thought he thought
then; what he thinks about 1t now do not
know, since the gentleman in the mean
time has become distinguished as the most
expert lightning change artist who has
ever contributed his antics TO the Joy OF
political vaudeville"
Taking up the items in the steel bill, Mr.
DalzeI declared that even under existing
rates. "the duty on every leading article
on schedule c Is 70 low as to permit the
substitution OF foreign made goods for
homemade goods" Under the Democratic
bill proposed, he declared, there may be
imported $4,000 l2J more OF foreign prod
ucts.
RidiculinE the ill fated Farmers Free
list bill and the vacllating policies Of the
majority, the Pennsylvania Republican
asked the Democrats 10 explain why some
ca- -ripd free in the
farmers bill had been made dutiable in
the measure now presented by the Demo-
crats.
Representative Hill. Of Connecticut, de-
olared that the placing Of typewriteTs limo
type machines, cash registers and other
patented articles on the free list, as pro-
posed IN the bill, would result in the re-
moval Of American plants TO foreign soil
where the goods could be made cheaper
while the patents would prevent any re-
duCtion in the selling price in the Amer
Jean market Representative Palmer in
: sisted such would not be the outcome.
The debate to-day was followed by the
statement from Mr.. Underwood that he
would endeavor to close the general debate
tomorrow The passage of the bill to-
morrow night or Monday is expected by
the Democratic leaders.
Following Mr.. Palmer's plea for insur-
gent support in the Senate, the insurgents
met after adjournment of the House to-
night and tentatively agreed to support the
Democratic measure. It is estimated that
probably twenty insurgents will vote for
the Democratic bill. BY this course the
followers of Mr.. La Toilette and Mr.. Cum
Minis hope TO aid the Democratic movement
10 put the President in a hole"