The Washington times., 1913-04-08
SENATORS DISLIKE
TARIFF BILL FORM
Presentation Of Measure En-
Bloc Certain to Kill Support
Of Some Republicans.

That the Underwood tariff bill, If
1t passes at all,- will do so by sub
stentialiy a party vote, was the pre-
diction widely made today in legis-
lattve quarters, following the first
casual studies of the measure
Many Of its features would have
received the support of considerable
numbers of Republicans IL the meas
ure had been introduced in a series of
schedule bills, instead of in omnibus
form. But the Republican tariff re-
formers OF the old Senate group that
fought the Payne -Aldrich bill and
voted against it, are not pleased with
the omnibus measure.
More than this. they were surprised
when President Wilson assented to
the Introduction of the entire legis-
lation In one, bill 1t has been ex-
pected until quite recently that he
would stick for the schedule by
schedule plan.
~ matter of fact. the President
himself is represented as being TO
ter form of presentation. He very
recently said that he had heard most
convincing arguments on both sides.
and indicated that he was not very
certain which side had the stronger
The attitude of Republicans who op-
posed the Payne-Aldr1ch measure is
not very encouraging to Democrats,
who have INDUCED hopes of getting
come Republican support in the Senate,
II need should arise. One Of these said
today:
An Abominatien.
The introduction of a tariff bill in
this form is simply an abomination
There is good deal in this bill that I
should like to support. and could sup
port If 1t were presented in the other
FORM But the presentation Of an omni-
bus bill is the exclusion OF opportunity
for individual judgment. The measure
is open to amendment in the Senate; but
when ii comes from conference, one
must vote for all of 1t or against all of
It
without doubt, the omnibus plan was
adopted in the expectation that marty
discipline would be potent to hold the
Democratic Senators soiidly In line and
force the measure through in the form
In whfNh Il comes from conference.
the whole procedure a partisan one.
The appeal will bS, when that crisis
comes. that the failure of the bill is
the failure of the party. and means de-
Ieat IN the future. 1t will be used for |
al II Is WORTH
Lesseas Support.
On the other side, Democrats. admit |
ting that the omnibus form lessons
greatly the chance Of getting Repuoli-
can and Progressive support, saw that
that support could no have been OBJ |
tained at the points wheer it was
most needed
pass reductions in the cotton schedule" /"
SAID a Democrat. ''and We couldn't get |
1t TO pass free sugar schedule. So |
WHATS the use? Better adopt the plan
that Will give the best chance to solIdi- |
~ our own people, it's, too dangerous.
reiyinS on the meager hope of REIN |
forcemenfs from, the other side of the |
party line
resident Wilson has cast in his lot |
with the omnibus plan, it is under /
stood. with this aspect big in his vision. |
Schedule-by-schedule revision. his sun |
po1ers say, would be well enough for |
the future: that is, after the tariff has
been placed on the general basi. now
proposed, particular "details could prop
erty be readjusted one at a time But
et this moment, the sugar schedule
and the income tax section, for in
etance, simply cannot be separted
Is Dependent.
The income tax must depend in large
measure on what happens to the big
reyenue-producing items.
II sugar retains duty of Der cent
Tor three years, the income tax must
BE- adjusted to that fact: =.
Therefore. it is urged, to separate
the subject into series of separate
bills would be only q nominal separa-
ton; each would have 20 be consid-
cred with reference to the fate of
others. and the simpler method is 10
keep the whole thing in one bill. and
at the same time to fortify the entire
proposition with the strongest possible
appeal to party loyalty of the Demo
Gratis. Es -