New-York tribune., 1912-02-13
THEDAVI VINWASHINGTOW
From The Tribune Bureau
INaehineton- EebruaI


DEMOCRATS AFFRIGHTED.-Purs
their usual policy of leaping first and loon
ing afterward the Democrats in the HOUSE
have suddenly bethought themselves VI ~
adylsabiity OF casting up accounts 10 uv
termine where they are coming out WIN
their reckless cutting of the tarin ana tie'i
eXtravagant increase OF the appropria 'ioii9'
Apparently this is the first time they nave
stopped 10 think, and now they are no'e
than startled at the showing they nave
made, so much so that they are seriously
contemplating a reputation OF their prom
ise to revise the sugar schedule Many VI
them had no idea how essentially revenue
duty the tariff on sugar is when they lnaue
such reckless promises of material TSuuC
ton, but now that they have taken OCCASION
TO look over the sources or federal reNeHuO
they are aghast. Although unable 10 agree
as 10 what policy should be pursued an"
fearing they will subject themselves TO the
lashing OF the Great COmmoner II theS
refuse TO cut the sugar duties In two, they
have decided to put the chemical scheuule
forward first The subcommittee OF the
Ways and Means Committee had pracu-
cally agreed on fiat rate Of one cent 2
pound on sugar, but the full Democra'l'
membership dares not stand by this deer
sion in view Of the s75,0oo00 for pensions
which the Democrats have already addeu
to the federal budget 1t is believed no"
that first by caucusing and then some"hs'
extensively discussing the chemical scheu-
ule time may be gained for the improVi-
dent and reckless House leaders TO sec
where they are at" IN the matter oil
revenues before they undertake any serious
tampering with the sugar schedule.
THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION-Ths
Democratic leaders have no idea whatever
that the Sherwood pension bill. which
would add $4,000. 600 a year to the pen
sion budget. will become a law. 1t was
not passed for that purpose. Their sole
purpose in passing II was TO flimham the
old soldier into believing that the Demo-
Gratis were his friends-unti after the
election OF next November. 1t may De
asked, then. why their extravaganza III
this regard should prove a check on their
recklessness in curtailng tarir re"enues'
| The reason is that they desire TO go De-
fore the country during the campaign ana
| TO point to their record IN the House az
! constituting the course they would nave
pursued had they been intrusted with con-
! troll OF both houses. or course, II that
record shows that they made dpproprla-
tions far in excess of the revenues IL
| would be an easy matter for the Repup-
! licans 10 demonstrate either that they are
wholly insincere or that had they been in
| trusted with the power they would have
plunged the country into financial disas-
| ter and have created a deficit with the
same celerity with which they created one
| the last time they were intrusted with
power. With regard 20 the Sherwood bill,
some of the wiser of the House leaders
have already made advances 10 Senator
Hoke Smith and other Democrats In the
upper house urging them 10 seek to re-
trieve the House pension blunder by OPP
posing the Sherwood bill when il comes
up in the Senate, or. If that fails TO come
up. by opposing any increase of pensions
which may be proposed by the Repub-
licans. The desire for such opposition Is
not shared by majority Of the House
Democrats, however, who hope to gain
credit with the old soldier through their
insincere legislation.
PENSION LEGISLATION.-The Senate
Committee on Pensions to-day reported IA
vorably the Smoot BILL with some modihca-
tions, as a substitute for the Sherwood bill.
The Smoot bill is based on both age and
length Of service and would add approxi-
mately s24. .OOO, 600. instead of s75,OOo,OOO, 10
the pension budget. The vote by which
the Sherwood bill was rejected in commit
tee stood 10 to 4, those voting for the House
measure being Senators Brown, Curtis,
Shively and Johnson. These four Will make
a minority report which. no doubt. they eX-
pect will make good campaign literature in