Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-14
AGAINST METAL BILL
Senate Committee Adverse
to Revision of Schedules.
MAKE REPORT TOMORROW:
Vote on Democratic Measure Us q
Strictly Party
One.

~ a SOIc VI o 10 tic oSudt0 IH0uC0
committee today formally voted to report
adversely on the democratic bill for the
revision of the metals schedules, the first
of the democratic tariff measures to be
taken up and acted on by the Senate COM
mittee. This adverse action was fully
anticipated. The only member Of the
committee whose vote was not counted
was Senator La Toilette. He was absent,
and. unlike Senators Hepburn and Stone.
who also were absent, he sent no proxy.
The vote was strictly party one.
The adverse report Is being drafted by
the republican members Of the commit
tee, chiefly Senators Penrose and Smoot,
and 1t probably will be put into the Sem
ate tomorrow. The republicans will take
the position that no revision OF tariff
port has been received from the tarin
board.
Foundation for Tariff Issues.
In taking this course the republican
Senate leaders are laying the foundation
for the tariff issue in the coming presil
Dental campaign. The republicans are
going to the country on the principle
that future revisions Of the tariff
schedules should be made only after an
exhaustive and thorough Investigation Of
the difference in the cost of production
at home and abroad by q non-partisan
tariff board such as made the report on
wool and woolens. The die was cast
today by the action of the Senate finance
committee.
The making Of the adverse report
was over the protest OF Senator Cum
minis. republican insurgent, to the re-
publicans on the committee. During an
Informal conference last night, attend
ed by the republicans on the finance
NO 1Y1ttf too nd hy,S fovs
an insurgent. Senator Cummins urged
that steps be taken by the republicans
for the passage of tariff revision
bills, and he announced he would urge
publican regulars at the conference
took the position that they should
stick to the tariff board. and that they
did at the committee meeting today.
for the democratic metalS bill when it
gets into the Senate. Unless the demo-
Gratis can get four or five Of the republi
can insurgents to vote for the democratic
ably accept the Cummins substitute. This
will mean that the differences between
the House bill and the Cummins bill will
have to be adjusted in conference.
Banking on Insurgents.
The democrats have high hopes of
finding sufficient support among the re-
publican insurgents to pass the House
democratic bill unaniAnded. but the In
surgents are waiting for the Cummins
substitute
The reporting Of the metals schedule
bill to the Senate tomorrow will mark
the opening Of the tariff fight OF this
session on the floor Of the Senate, and
it will be of special Importance because
OF the proximity OF the presidential
campaign.
AS soon as the metals schedule had been
disposed Of by the Senate finance COM
mittee 1t began at once hearings on the
second Of the democratic tariff measures
the bill revising the chemical schedule
That is the bill which the republican in
surgents Of the House, who voted for the
metals bill, refused to support on the
ground that 1t was revision upward in
stead Of downward.
Joseph Wood Testihes.
That It would be better for the public
II Industrial corporations. such as the
United States Steel Corporation. did not
control railroads which participated in
the division of freight rates. was the tes-
timony given by Joseph Wood. vice presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, before the Stanley steel trust in
vestigating committee yesterday after
npon.
II should take the point Of view"
said Mr.. Wood. in answering a
question from Chairman Stanley, that
a railroad operated ostensib1y as q
plant facility by an Industrial corpora
ton, should be confined to the busi-
ness Of that plant and not participate
in general railroad business as a COM
mon carrier"
Mr.. Wood told the committee that the
Pennsylvania railroad had received
complaints from Independent steel
Steel Corporation had an unfair adj
vantage In shipping because Of its
ownership of railroads.