New-York tribune., 1912-02-18
IRON The Tribun. Bur.au.J

washington, FEBRUARY IL.
TARIFF LEGISLATION.-In about two
weeks the President will lay before Con-
gress the report Of the Tariff Board on the
cotton schedule. This report, which is de-
scribed as. II possible, even more compre-
hensive than that on the wool industry. will,
IL Is understood. show some material de-
fects in the cotton schedule OF the Payne
law. will demonstrate that the cotton bill
Of the last session was drafted with no
knowledge Of these defects, and IL approved
by the President would merely have re-
enacted them. and will point way TO some
much needed revision. The experts en-
ployed by the Tariff Board have not only
made a thorough investigation Of the cotton
industry in Europe, but also in japan, and
have thus secured vast amount Of infor-
nation which no Ways and Means Commit
tee has ever had before II when dealing
with this important industry. When the
report reaches the President he will send
II to Congress with the recommendation
that the Payne law be amended in accord
ance with its findings. Inquiry among
Democratic leaders of the House, however,
discloSes no disposition to profit by this re-
port but, on the contrary, determination
10 cheat the consumers out OF the tarin re-
ductions TO which they are entitled. The
reasons for this Cctermination-while not
expressed IN th-sc "ords, they amount to
the same thing-arc that, having passed
cotton bill at the last session, the Demo
Gratis believe they can gain no pohticai
glory by passing another at this time, ana
that were they TO pass bill in accordance
with the report of the Tariff Board the
President would undoubtedly sign IT, ana
thus would at least share the credit with
the Democrats few Of the leaders are
also frank enough to suggest that any real
revision Of the cotton schedule would en-
counter serious opposition from those Demo
cratic Senators in whose states are many
cotton mills, and that thus the wide division
among the Democrats regarding tariff re-
vision would be shown up in 2 most un-
fortunate light In a word, the Democrats
are confident they can fool the average
voter with the mock cotton bill which they
passed last session. but which they never
expected 10 become a law. and that by
barking back to that measure they can
escape that actual revision to which they
are pledged and which the President and
the Tariff Board have placed within their
easy reach.
NO STEEL REPORT.-Because the time
Of its entire force is being devoted 10 It's in
vestigations OF the cotton industry and the
chemical schedule the Tariff Board is max
ing no attempt at this time TO procure like
data on the steel industry. so that the Presi-
dent will not have before him such infor-
nation as would enable him TO determine
the merits or the dement's OF the steel tariff
bill, should that measure reach him. When
the board has completed the work now IN
hand it Will begin an investigation of the
steel Industry. and will probably have COM
pleted its work in time to permit the EN-
ecutive TO pass intelligently on such meas
ure at the next session of Congress. For
this reason Il Is an obvious waste OF time
for the Democrats 10 devote their time 10
pretended attempts TO revise other sched-
ules when the President has made his posi-
ton perfectly clear. and they realize that
he will now sign both wool and cotton re-
vision bills IL they are made TO conform 10
the facts submitted by the Tarih Boaro.
Incidentally. the course OF the Ways and
Means Committee in embodying In its re-
mort on its chemical bill the glossary pre-
pared by the Tariff Board Is an occasion
Of satisfaction to friends Of the ooaTn.
This constitutes a testimonial TO the value
Of the work of the board, end will serve to
emphasize the insincerity Of the Democrats
II they carry out their present purpose To
abolish the Tariff Board by refusing TO
make the appropriation for its continuance,
DIRECT ELECT1oNS.-The prospects for
tba Rorah amendment 10 the Constitution
nroviding for the -direc. election Of United
states Senators are far from bright, and us
friends are beginning TO fear that the Demo-
cratic opposition in the House will prove
ins,,perable. The resolution providing for
this amendment passed, it will be recalled,
on,v az the result Of the clever handling Of
tho situation by Senator Bristow, who pro-
posed an amendment retaining TO inc feu-
aro, Government measure of supervision