New-York tribune., 1912-01-28
After StormieSt Tariff Session
on Record House Adjourns at
Midnight Without Pass
inu Measure.
ALL AMENDMENTS CUT OFF
Regular and Insurgent Republi
cans Stand Together in I'm
availing Fight Against Steam
Roller Methods-Taunts
Flung at Majority.
rryo-, The Tribune Bureau

washington, Jan. 2l.-Adlournlng only
because the hands of the clock indicated
the arrival Of Sunday. the House to-
night, after one Of the stormiest davs Of
debate that ever marked the considera-
tion Of tariff bill. failed 70 take action
on the Democratic measure revising the
steel and iron schedules.
After delivering an ultimatum early in
the day that the bill must be TANNED
through the House before II adjourned.
Representative Underwood at II 55
o'clock tonight was forced 10 move an
adjournment The bill, without change,
FOR the Democratic phalanx moved down
every amendment offered by the minority
to-day. will be passed on Monday.
Midnight found protesting minority
members still engaged in Intellectual at
tempts 10 amend and perfect the Demo-
cratic measure. Throughout the after
noon and night scores OF similar at
tempts had been made, only 10 meet
with summary rejection at the hands Of
the Democratic tariff tinkers. who only
awaited the signal Of Mr.. Underwood
10 reject any proposition put forward
by the minority. Partisan accusations
of the most bitter nature were hurled
across the aisle: cries Of gag rule
filed the air: the widest disorder pre-
vailed at times, and the official stenog-
rainier passed through one Of the most
trying experiences that ever attended
the reporting OF a tariff debate.
When the House adjourned. two para
graphs of the bill remained to be read
for amendment Finding it impossible
20 end the debate before Sunday morn
ing, Mr.. Underwood finally gave mp the
attempt to rush the bill through to-
right.
Insurgents Denounoe Underwood
Insurgent members Of the House, on
whom the Democrats depended for aid
in rolling UP a large majority for the
bill, denounced the steam roller meth
DDS by which Representative Underwood
closed the general debate as soon as the
House met to-day. Representative
Mann. the minority leader. characterized
Mr.. Underwood as "the boss Of the ma
jority Of this body" and his charge
went unchallenged.
Appeals from the decision of the chair
were numerous, when Representative
Floyd presiding. ruled out on points of
order various amendments offered by
Republicans. These rulings. Mr.. Mann
declared, were the most autocratic ever
witnessed since the foundation of the
republic
Representatives Martin and Taylor.
Democratic members from Colorado. at
tempted TO amend the bill, but their ef-
forts were as unsuccessful as those of
the minority. Mr. Martin and Mr.. Tay-
lor had been excused from adherence to
the dictates Of the Democratic caucus.
Denouncing the gag rule" under
which the majority leader closed the
general debate, Representative Lenroot,
Wisconsin Insurgent. declared: This
House now is a slave to the Democratic
caucus and the caucus is slave TO the
majority Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee." Answering charges that tariff
bills of former sessions had been rail-
roaded through the House, Mr.. Lenroot
said:
Il have stood with gentlemen on the
other side for reform in the rules. /
believe now tina. the old method was the
better. Then the proceedings were open
and above board and we knew what 10
expect. Now the Democratic side OF
the House pretends to bring about re-
forms in the procedure of this body and
their pretences are nothing but hollow
mockery."
Gag Rule!" Shout Republicans.
Charges of Caucus domination" md
gag rule were made repeatedly bv Re-
puolicans, insurgents and regulars. as Mr.
underwood applied the rules TO shut otf
oeDate and the amendments offered Two
OF the insurgent leaders-Norris of Ne
oraska, and Lenroot, of Wisconsn-charged
the Democrats with denying the House a
fair Chance TO consider the bill
Ihe insurgents made determined attack
on the Dill at various points and showed no
disposition TO support the Democratic
measure. Amendments for free steel rails
ana Tree pig iron were offered by Repre-
sentative Warburton, of Washington. Re-
publican Insurgent, and voted down.
Representative Murdock. of Kansas. at
tempteo 10 put In a free steel rail amend.
ment that would apply only in case the
United States Stel Corporation was held
by the United States Court TO he an nm
lawful combination. He declared that all
democrats ought to be willing TO sunnort
This proposal, but Chairman Underwood
exhorted the Democrats TO vote IL down
saying that II the Steel Corporation were
dissolved there would be real competition
among steel rail mills
The debate was marked by a yigorous
denial from Representative Palmer. Demo
erat, or Pennsylvania, that the duty had
been removed from iron ore with the idea
of benehting certain steel interests in Penn
sylvania- Representative Austin, Repubri.
can. Of Tennessee, made fight for the
restoration of duty on iron ore, declaring
that free ore would be particular beneNt
10 the Bethlehem Steel Company. Of which
Charles NJ. Schwab is the head, and which
has mills in the district represented by Mr.
Palmer
Palmer Marked for Slaughter"
I want 10 make a statement TO end this
matter az once" replied Mr.. Palmer 80
far from being the mouthpiece of npol,es-
man OF the representative of the Betnle-
hem Steel Company" he said, II want II
understood that am here in opposition 10
AT OF its efforts. Within the last forty
eight hours have received my notice that
sor this so-called act OF treachery 10 tn.
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