The Washington times., 1913-04-29
HOPE[ESSF! FIGHT ON
i TARIFF BILL OPENED
Republicans and Progressives
Try to ;s.Nsad Underwood
Bill Under 5.Mlhs*a Rule.

t.>sntinued from First Page)
paigns, and the partisan warfare start
ed OF merrily at II clock today.
Republicans Open Fire.
Party lines were drawn taut as soon
rs the reading clerk drawled the first
line of the chemical schedule. The
chief gunners of the Republican side
moved down close to the Democratic
breastworks and opened up with a
volley of amendments.
Congressman Mann AID Payne drew
up a table in front OF the first row of
seats on the minority side and spr .ai
thereon copies of the tariff bill and re-
port and also copies - the Underwood
bills of the last session, which have
been modified in the latest revision.
Congressman Mondell of WyominS,
who will protest particularly against
the wool schedule. sat by the minority
leader and the veteran tarif-maker,
Payne.
Two rows in the rear were seen three
Republican members of the Ways and
Mans acknowledgements Moore
of Pennsylvania, Anderson of Minnie
sota, and Greene of Iowa. Their table
was Uttered with little scraps of paper
upon which were written amendments
which will be offered and defeated.
Congressman Victor Murdoch. the
Bull Moose leader, strayed Dver and
took an aisle seat on the Democratic
side, but he voted with the Republi-
Mann Teases Democrats.
Get on your own side-somebody will
think you are a Democrat" said fel-
low from the rear of the hall when the
IT, ha
side Of the chamber. Vic grinned
and kept his seat.
The initial skirmish consisted of par
tisan talk about a t"riff commission.
Congressman Mann. who likes TO pes
ter Democrat. arose every few min
utes and picked a grievous flaw in
some section of the chemical schedule.
This shows the need of scientific in
Gratis don't want information: We on
this side want light; we would have a
tariff commission"
There vas a suspicion OF a twinkle
in the minority leaders eyes as he
them of Ignorance" Mann congratu-
lated the majority that certain amend
ments offered by me to your chemical
schedule a year ago have been put in
this bill. 1t took you a year to find
out I was right: il will take You an
other year to find out i am right now,
perhaps"
Underwood Makes Reply.
Congressman Underwood said the
country had delegated power to the
Democrats to revise the tariff and
had repudiated Mr.. Mann's party. He
was glad to receive information. even
from the gentleman from Illinois. said
Mr. Underwood, with tnge OF sar-
casm, but the Republican party would
not be permitted to rewrite a Demo-
cratic bill.
Congressman Madden, an Illinois Re-
publican. Joined in.1theS fray by de
nouncing the Demovcrats for holding
q secret caucus, (Which bound and
gagged all of you to vote for this bill
whether you like II or not"
Didn't the Republicans caucus on
the Payne bill, or did you call it con-
ferenceT' asked Congressman Hard
wick OF Georgia
Mr.. Madden said there had been no
caucus on that bill.
Murdock Hits Republicans.
NO, the party organization in the
House was such that you didn't need
q caucus In those days" interjected
the insurgent, Vic" Murdock. The
Democrats vociferously applauded the
Bull Moose thrust at the old Cannon
regime.
CONGRESSMAN Lenroot of Wisconsin
wanted TO know if Democrats were
permitted to vote for merltorlous
amendments.
You say you are willing to get in
formation even from this side" ex-
planned Mr.. Lenroot addressing Mr..
Underwood. IF an amendment is
offered which appeals TO you or to any
Democrat will receive support or
must you again take the bill back into
Mr. Underwood replied that the
democrats were pretty well satisfied
with the bill reported by their agents.
the Ways Means Committee, and the
Republicans hooted.
With this preliminary verbal tilt, the
offering of amendments TO the chemical
schedule was begun, although Mr..
Mann said in advance that he knew
no amendment had chance.
Long Speeches Are Barred.
General debate on the tariff ended AZ
q night session last night. IL was near
ly midnight when the minority leader,
Mr.. Mann. hurled the final Republican
brickbat at the Democratic bill. The
minority leader demanded a tariff COM
mission to make report upon a 'scien-
tihc' revision of the tariff.
Congressman Underwood. majority
leader, closed the long discussion by
suavely declaring that the Republicans
were In power sixteen years and hadn't
employed the services of a tariff COM
mission. He was inclined 20 think there
was a great deal of hypocrisy in the
eleventh-hour cry for scientific in
formation.
Long speeches were barred when the
House took the bill up under the five
minute rule today. The reading of the
bulky bill WAS begun. and Republicans
and Progressivcs stood ready TO offer
amendments TO almost every section.
Speeches of Canned" Variety.
Nearly twelve hours was devoted TO
general debate on the bill yesterday.
The House met at IL o'clock. tyUk a
short recess for dinner. and then re-
Eewed the talkfcst which continued
until almost midnight.
The speeches on the closing Ga% Of
the general debate were mainly of the
canned or prepared in advance. va
riety, and were uttered largely for
home consumption. Many of the orators
arose falteringly ana observed that
nothing may say here will change
this bill, but ] cannot see it pass undl
! voice my prote etc.
Democratic leaders in the House hope
TO get the bill to the Senate carly next
week. Then the House will busy itself
with the organization of committees.
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