New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-01
MAY FORCE TAFT VETO.
Democrats Tinkering on Tariff
for Campaign Purposes.
SEEKING A "GREAT ISSUE"
Democratic .Insurgent Coalition
Expected to Pass La Toilette
Wool Bill, Once Disap-
proved by Taft.
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington, July 31.-The Democrats
OF the Senate. ruthlessly throwing over
board the tariff policy Of their colleagues
In the House as outlined in the bills
passed by that body decided day TO de-
vote their energies to the passage Of
ACCOMPLISHMENTS measures with the
avowed purpose of forcing the President
to veto them. They abandoned the I'm
derwood wool BILL which they could have
passed, and decided to make a fight for
the La Toilette bill as II will be modi-
fed in conference.
With the purpose OF bringing the farci-
cal tariff tinkcring to an end. the Repub-
licans of the Senate will probably allow
tho Democrats to take matters in their
own hands and achieve their purpose OF
passing some sort OF tariff bills which
will evoke Executive disapproval.
conference will be called tomorrow
on the steel bill. The Democrats Of the
Senate. with the aid OF the insurgents,
purpose to eliminate the amendment re-
pealing Canadian reciprocity. 1t Is ex-
pected that the House will accept the
minor amendments adopted in the Senate.
The wool bill will go TO conference, Seri-
ators Bailey, Simmons and La Toilette
representing the Senate as they did last
year. II Is expected that the Democratic
insurgent coalition will pass the compro-
mise measure which will be agreed upon
by the conferrees. Some Of the insursent
Republicans upon whom the Democrats
will count for support will. however. vote
against the wool bill II the rates proposed
are as low as those incorporated in the
compromise measure Of last year, which
was vetoed by the President Senator
Cummins, for one. will oppose such a bill
on the ground that the rates are not pro-
tective.
No Sugar Session Likely.
on the sugar bill. the only Republican
tariff measure which has passed the Sen
ate. the Democrats are at sea Demo-
cratic Senators are opposed TO the free
sugar bill passed by the House. but are
equally opposed to any Republican meas
ure reducing the tarin-simply because il
is Republican. If the Senate bill IS not
ultimately accepted by the House il is
probable that there will be no sugar re-
vision at all.
The tariff is becoming a source OF much
annoyance 10 Democrats who have their
eye on the forthcoming campaign. Under
the direction OF such leaders as Repre-
sentative Underwood and Speaker Clark
the House has formulated one policy. The
Senate Democrats have rejected this pro-
gramme. abandoning the free sugar bill
and dropping tho Underwood wool bill for
a la Toilette measure. The Democratic
platform has formulated a tariff pro-
gramme with which neither the House
nor the Senate Democrats are In har-
mony. and there hangs over the party the
stlll greater question OF what Governor
Wilson is going to say about II all.
While the House has assumed an air OF
apparent Indifference toward the Senate
amendments TO the wool bill, IL is gem
orally understood the Democrats OF the
lower body will not let slip an opportu-
nifty 10 agree upon compromise" bill
when the matter goes to conference The
House majority, coached by Representa-
tive Underwood. will attempt TO send at
least two tariff revision measures-the
wool and cotton bills-to the President
by means Of the new insurgent-Demo-
cratic coalition in the Senate.
Representative Underwood and his
tariff tinkerins colleagues have been con-
ildent for some time that il the insurgents
are given representation on the Senate
conference committee an agreement on the
wool bill. particularly. is possible Mr..
Underwoo to-day announced the House
would pass Immediately the cotton BIZ.
and tho same situation applies 10 that
measure, regardless of the final disposi-
ton of the excise tax the sugar and other
tariff bills.