The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-05
To Be Weighed in Steady
Balance of Senate
DeliberatiOn
HOUSE TO LEARN
PRESIDENTS PLANS
President Has Made No Definite Sug-
gestion Regarding Current Leg
islation at Extra Session.
Ready for Emergency

| Washington May 4.--The Underwood
tariff revision bill is expected TO pass
this week from it's scene of rushed con
fideration in the House to be weighed
in the steady balance of Senate delib-
eration. 1t probably will be passed in
right, Just as 1t came from the ways
aud means committee, with free raw
wool, free sugar in three years. It's in
| come tax, free meat, free flour and
| sweepng reductions in livestock and
| manufactured articles.
When the democratic majority thun-
ders out its chorus of approval as the
bin is put upon its passage in the
| House, the measure will be just one
month old and its champions predict
that within two months more it will
have The approval of the Senate and
soon thereafter be inscribed on the
statute books over the signature of
the democratic President.
President Wilson, il he proposes to
ask Congress for current legislation
at the extra session. has not yet made
any definite suggestion relating to II,
ba. House leaders viii learn before
many days his plans in that regard.
Whatever is in store. the lower branch
of Congress has determined to complete
she formation of standing committees
and it will be ready for any emergency
while the Senate is mulling over the
tariff.
No Programme Determined
Although the Senate finance commit
Tee, to which the tariff bill formally
will be referred when 1t comes from
the House, has not determined on a
programme of procedure, 1t has been in
formally considering the bill for IL
month and Will be ready before many
days to announce its plans. Senator
Simmons, chairman, divided the com
snittee into three sections and the sub
committees are studying the various
schedules and sections of the measure
20 report to the 4uil committee with
recommendations as soon as possible
When the sub COMMITTEES in the Sen
ete have reported the committee Will
decide upon its course Thus far the
majority senators have been of the mind
that the bill should not be delayed for
public hearing, but insistent demands
from many interests for such a hearing
may bring about a change of view.
IL Is an open secret that the Presi-
dent the finance committee and the
ways and means committee have had
ar understanding that the bill should
be revised in all essential particulars
in the House If there are to be any
changes but whether this agreement
can be maintained remains to be seen
Certain it is however, that the ma
1ority senators do not contemplate ma
terlal changes If 1t is possible to avoid
them.
Sugar Schedule
The sugar schedule with its immedl-
ate rs per cent reduction and free sugar
i'll three years, is almost certain to re-
main as it is. Wool might come ont
eventually with a slight duty, western
senators keeping up their demand for
it and continuing to confer with the
President in an effort to induce him
to yield from his determ ination for free
raw WOOL The only other changes that
seem at all likely relate to livestock
and possibly the pottery schedule. There
is a determined minority on the demo-
cratic side demanding that cattle, sheep
snd hogs should be put on the free list
along with food products and another
in the group of democrats clamoring
for an increase In the pottery schedule.
il.li these things democrat leaders as
sert will he determined before the bill
is reported in the senate for debate.
AS TO current legislation at tn1S SeS-
zion, it Is known that the temper of the
House is against ii. The House bank
Ing and currency committee will be or
Eanized, however, as soon as possible.
Representative Carter ID. Glass of Vir-
giria, who will be its chairman. plans
to confer with President Wilson this
week in an effort to get his defnitsl
ideas on the currency. 1t is probable
that the Presidents message cur
,ency will be ready before the tariff bill
Is cut of the way. Latest indications are
that he will urge the investigation of
the problem and the drafting of a bill
IA time for Congress when it convenes
In regular session, next December. This
will meet with the approval of House
and Senate leaders.
Currency Commission at Work
Already the Senate banking and cur
7ency commission has begun its work
a sub committee having been appointed
last week to draft a series of questions
relating to current reform to be sent
to bankers and financial experts
throughout the ountry. When these
lave been answered hearings may be
ordered In the meantime the commit
tee may determine to call before Il men
of standing in the financial world to
supplement the hearings begun Jy the
currency branch of the house commit
tee last winter.
As soon as the tariff bill leaves the
House the ways and means committee
viii begin to make up the House COM
m!.tees with the army of new members
TO be assigned. Mr.. Underwood has
ESTIMATED that this task will take two
Tor three weeks. Few important changes
I'm chairmanships are contemplated
#4iitzgerald of New York will retain
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