The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-12
Democrats Show Disposition to
Strike at Trust Made
Products
SUGAR IS CAUSE.
OF UGLY FEELING
Those Who Want 1t Admitted
Free Just As Determined
AS Those Who Ask
rejection
WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON. april u The
first change To be made in the Lnder-
wood tariff bin came today The
Democratic caucus Of the house voted
TO put shoe machinery on the tree
list and the finance committee Of the
senate adopted motion increasing
the duties on pottery and elasyware,
These changes probably are only a
beginning, as protests are being re-
ceiVed from manufacturers ana pro-
ducers in all parts Of the country.
ana every incoming train is bringing
delegations who are prepared 10 de-
mand that amendments be offered
The amendment adopted By the
mousse caucus was offered by Repre-
sentative BorIand. Of Missouri 1t
was carried by an overwhelming vote,
Goes After Trust.
chairman Underwood and his asso-
ciates on the ways and means COM
mittee made no fight against the free
shoe machinery amendment. They
saw that the caucus was In sympathy
with the amendment and practically
let it pass by default The argu-
ment in support of the amendment
was that a trust controlled shoe ma
chinery IN this country and for that
reason 1t should be admitted duty
free.
This was the only change made in
the metal schedule Democrats seem
disposed Ia reduce rates on products
supposed TO be controlled by So called
trusts. and accordingly the section Of
the bill placing steel rails and iron
ore on the free list went through
with a wheop Consideration of the
metal schedule was concluded today.
The caucus then took up the llrn-
Der schedule. Every effort to place
articles Of wood on the dutiable list,
nearly all Of which are admitted free
by the Underwood bill. was defeated
In fact only a few members from
lumber producing States of the South
had the temerity to suggest that wood
products should be retained or the
duttahle list Every time such an
amendment was offered it was prac-
ticaliy howied down. and no attempt
was made TO force Il record vote in
any instance.
The sugar schedule viii be taken
up at the meeting tomorrow.
Fight Over Sugar.
An ugly feeling has been aroused
over the sugar schedule Members
who want the sugar admitted free i'm
mediately upon the passage of the bill
appear to be just as determined as
some who are now trying for an ex-
tension Of the duuabte period from
three to five years.
Efforts made by the opponents of
free sugar and free wool TO make a
combination with. other Democrats
who are opposed to some of the fea-
lures of the Underwood bin have fail
( ed. Present indications are that ii
viii he impossible 10 effect any aln-
ances among the disaffected elements
against the organization headed by
Representative Underwood The or
ganization has the support Of the adj
ministratlon and it is this fact that
deters members disgruntied over the
tariff bill from getting together
The house caucus viii be continued
tomorrow and probably the meeting
viii be projected into next week. Lit
tie progress has been made on the
bin in the last three days. Three
schedules have been passed upon.
There are thirteen other schedules, in
/ addition To the income tax provision
and the administrative features of the
Underwood bin
ON the senate side John Sharp Will
liams Of the finance committee de-
( clared today that the Democrats on
( the committee had not agreed to
stand by the president in support of
free wool and free sugar.
/ IF any senator gave out such in
1 formation" said Senator Williams.
'he lied We are all sworn to disclose
nothing Of what took place in those
( conferences"
1t has been known for some time
I that Senator Williams was opposed To
! free sugar and he has recently ex-
pressed the opinion that there ought
I to be a small duty on most Of the
I articles that the house has placed on
/ the free list But his colleagues on
the committee undoubtedly have been
under the impression since the con-
I ference with President Wilson that
the entire Democratic membership Of
{ tho committee would stand by the
house bin on wool and sugar. In
fact ii is stated most positively that
in the conference President Wilson
was assured by Chairman Simmons
( that the Democratic members of the
committee would stand by him on
wool and sugar but further than that
\ rhe chairman declined to commit hims
self
In Harmony With President.
When Senator Simmons was seen
later today after the finance con~
mittee had adjourned he declined to
discuss what happened in the con-
ference that the president attended,
( but said:
Il cannot speak for the sentiment
! Of the senate on this bin. / am I'M
clined TO believe. however. that the
committee will he found in harmony
with the president upon more or less
disputed points, including wool and
sugar"
Z Senator Thornton, Oh I10HiSiaHAs
stated today that there would be no
weakening on the part of those De-
mocratic senator's who have pro-
nounced In opposition TO free sugar
4 A canvass Of the situation on the De-
mocratic side of the senate shows
1 that while the Western Democratic
senator's who have been sIassed Az
4 opposed to free sugar havS1hown no
signs of weakening and supporting
the presidents policy there is reason
| To believe that the opposition TO free
| kr,.n4In..na or. cixth nnara 4 .Ns4.