The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-16
xeRKlAe on the TARIFF.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS MAKES
CHANGES IN REVISION BILL.
Shoe Machinery Placed ON the Free
List and Change Made I'm the Metal
Schedule---LouisIana Members Still
Fighting for Duty ON Sugar.

washington. April 11.-Shoe ma
ehinery now taxed as per cent on
which a reduction to 25 per cent was
proposed by the tariff revision hill.
WIS ordered transferred to the free
list oy the Democratic caucus of the
house today. IL was the first real
break OF the Democrats from the
ways and means committee rates
though earlier In the day the caucus
had agreed to an amendment offered
by Representative Palmer of Pennsyl-
vania- a member OF the committee. in
charge OF the metal schedule, under
which lead containing a strain OF less
than . per cent of zinc, would be ad-
mitted free OF duty.
For three days there had been n
great deal OF speech making from
members with and without grievances.
but all amendments proposed had
been steadily voted down with ma
jorities satisfactory to the Democratic
readers The shoe machinery amend
ment. proposed by Representative
Bosiand OF Missouri and carried by n
viva voce vote without substantial op-
position from the members OF the
committee. followed a lively discus
sion in which Representative Oglesby
OF New York. new member, arraign-
ed the United Shoe Machinery COM
pany. and so-called trust, and pointed
to the free list as an opportunity to let
In competition.
Representative Hardwick OF Geor-
gia and others are insistent upon i'm
mediate free sugar. The Broussard
amendments would make the hun
dred-weight rate on s6 degree sugar
from Cuba s1.14 on passage Of the
bill. $1.056 on June 80, 1916, and 97.2|
cents on June 80. 1919. instead of
sl.s4s as under the present law, and
Sl.oO4s In the committee bill. This
would mean. by comparison with the
present tariff law, q reduction of
roundly 20 cents at the outset. 20
cents in 1916 and 81 cents in 1919. On
100 degree sugar from sources other
than Cuba the Broussard amendment
would make a net reduction from the
present rates OF 81 I-2 cents per 100
pounds on passage Of the bill, SO cents
In 1916 and 62 cents I'm 1919.
Another Broussard amendment
would extend the period of grace un-
der which the contemplated free sugar
basis wns TO be reached within three
years 10 total OF four yearfs. so as to
carry the whole question beyond the
next national election.
Representatives Howard Of Georgia.
Gard OF Ohio and others Intellectually
sought TO have machine tools put on
the free list, while Representative
Hensley OF Missouri led a vain fight
against the reduction OF the duty on
load. Some OF the Democrats urged
free ziir in place Of the 10 per cent
duty.
The wood schedule was quickly dis
posed OF by the caucus. An amend
ment by Representative Raker OF CAL
ifornia to transfer paving blocks, rail-
road ties and telephone. telegraph and
other poles TO the free list. in place OF
the proposed 10 per cent duty, was
voted down.
Tonight Mr.. Underwood said the
caucus would not be able to get
through the bill for several days and
that It's consideration by the house
probably will not begin for another
week.
Hundreds OF protests against the
rates In the proposed tariff are reach
ing members OF the senate. whore ad-
vocates OF higher protection apparent
ly have determined to centre the at
Jack. The senate finance committee
spent three hours today in conference
over the house bill. and with the aid
OF treasury experts went through the
metal and earthenware schedules
Several small changes in duties were
practically agreed upon, but the COM
fnlttee will take no formal action on
any featr.e OF the bill until after 1t
has passed the house.