The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-23
UNITE ON SUGAR SCHEDULE,
ALL AMENDMENTS TO SUGAR
BILL DEFEATED.
Majority MuStcrS EnOusB Votes to
Push it IhrOugll-Dutch Standard
Amendment Adopted. Leaders En-
pcct to Lose No Strength.

IN 1916 carried the day in the senate
today, when Democrats rallied to the
support of the tariff bill and defeated
all amendments to the sugar schedule
with all but Senators Ransdell and
Thornton Of Louisiana standing firm
ly for the administration measure, the
Democrats defeated the Bristow
amendment for a compromise duty,
the Norris amendment against free
sugar and the Gallngher amendment
against free maple sugar.
An amendment to abolish immedi.
ately the Dutch standard test for
sugar was adopted during the fight.
1T was proposed by Senator Bristow
(Republican) and accepted by Sena-
tors Simmons and Williams, Demo-
cratic managers of the bill. Under it's
provisions the Dutch standard is
dropped as soon as the tariff bill be-
comes law instead OF next March as
the measure otherwise would have
provided
The decision on the sugar schedule
came at the end Of a debate devoid
OF much of the bitterness that had
been expected in connection with this
hght. The two Louisiana senator's
had made clear early in the consid-
Grafton Of the bill that they would
vote with the Republicans i'm favor
of duty on sugar, but there were no
other waverings in the ranks of the
Democrats.
Senator BristOw's amendment would
have established q gradual tariff of
Sl.9O per hundred pounds until in six
years the tariff would have been
LIZ IL. Under the Cuban treaty
this would have established a 97-ccnt
tariff on Cuban sugar, which consti-
tutes the bulk of the imports into the
United States
I. A hard fight was made for the Bris-
tow amendment, but when finally
forced to u vote it was defeated, 80
to "a. But for the absence Of Sem
ators Works, Sterling and Lippitt
(Republicans) and Senator PoindeX-
ter (PrOgrcssives), the vote probably
would have been SO to 80.
"A motion by Senator Gallinger to
strike out the provision to make maple
sugar and glucose free of duty in 1916
was beaten, 81 to 35.
The proposal to put all cane and
raw sugar on the free list in 1916.
behind which President Wilson had
mustered the Democratic majority af-
ter long and persistent effort, came
squarcly before the senate on a mo-
ton by Senator Norris (Republicam
TO strike out that feature of the bill.
This was defeated by viva voce vote.
Senator Norris not demanding q roll
call.
This proposal will come up again
when the bill has passed it's present
stage of consideration lin committee
of the whole" and advances to the
next reading in the senate. Senator
Ransdell of Louisiana, who gave no.
tice earlier in the day that he would
make similar motion, urged Senator
Norris to wait. When made again
the motion undoubtedly will call for
record vote, but Democratic leaders
tonight express confidence that they
would still have n clear majority of
at least one vote.
Senator Works is in California and
is not paired with any Democratic
senator. Nine Democrats were paired
with nine Republicans in this vote.
without a further break in the Dem
ocratic ranks the vote still would be
As to Al, should all pairs be broken
and all senator's return. Should the
Democrats insist upon withdrawing
existing pairs, the advantage would be
largely in their favor as Senators Du-
pont and Root Utcpublicans) are i'm
Europe; Senator Burlcigh is i'll, and
Senator Works has indicated he does
not expect to return to Washington
for the tariff session.
The acceptance of Senator Bris-
tows Dutch standard amendment and
its immediate adoption was greeted
with applause on the Republican side
Senator Williams, Democrat, said he
had expected to make a similar Sug-
gcStion SO that abolition of the Dutch
standard, which is held to be Il
strong discrimination in the Interest
OF sugar rctncrS, would not he de
laycd until March, 1914, when the r"Si
ct the sugar tariff becomes cncCtiv".
Senator simmons gave notice that
he would offer further amendments
to tho sugar Schcdul" before the IlIl
was approved, to make it clear that
the existing sugar duty of $l.?0 per
hundred Is to continue in force until
the new rate of 81 per hundred hC-
comes effective next March. senator