The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-24

Washington, May 21-Determina-
ton TO equalize live stock and grains
and their respective products in the
Underwood tariff bill has been reach
ed by the Senate finance subcommit-
tee considering the agricultural sched-
ule. 1t has been agreed that if cat
tie, sheep, hogs, wheat and oats are TO
remain dutiable as the Underwood
bill classifies them, then a duty shall
be placed upon beef, mutton, pork,
wheat flour and oats, or if these pro-
ducts are TO remain on the free list,
the raw materials will be converted
into the free list.
! This is the first basic tariff change
to be planned by Senate Democrats
since the Underwood bill came from
the House. Whether raw materials
and their products are TO be free list
ed or all 10 be made duitable has
not been determined, but that all will
be treated alike was asserted today
by Senator John Sharp Williams,
chairman of the subcommittee which
has the schedule in hand.
The decision TO equalize the sched-
ules, it also was reported, had been
reached with the knowledge OF the
President and not without his APPROX
al. .-.-
When Senator Williams was told Of
a report in circulation that his COM
mittee had decided to put all live stock
and grains on the free list in keep
ing with their products as they are
treated in the Underwood bill, he de-
clared there was no ground for such
a report.
But" declared the Senator, there
is this much about it, If cattle, sheep
and hogs are to remain dutiable ia
this bill then their products will car
ry duty. The same is true Of wheat,
oats, flour and oatmeal. There will
be no discrimination between these
raw materials and their products in
this bill. But We have not deter
mined whether they shall be datiable
or unduitable.' .y.
The fight over this feature of the
Underwood bill began in the house
and there was considerable Demo-
cratic opposition to the free listing of
farm products, while the raw material
e. was left dutiable. Some Democrats
predicted during the debate tn. the
senate would change the sche lule,
most of them asserting that live stock
and grains would go on the free list.
Whatever the subcommittee does in
the matter is expected TO meet with
the approval of the finance commit
tee majority. 1t was learned today
that Senator Walsh, Of Montana,
plans to introduce an amendment in
the senate TO put cattle on the free
list If the bill is presented without
such a change.
The Underwood bill puts a duty of
10 per cent ad valorem on all live
stock and free lists all fresh meat;
a duty of 10 cents per bushel on wheat
and oats and free lists wheat flour
and oatmeal Representative Under
wood, chairman of the house ways
and means committee, when asked
about proposed senate changes today
said that he had heard nothing about
them and that he did not intend 10
take any part in the tariff consider
alton until the bill gets in conference.
That there are to be a great many
changes in the bill in the Senate was
admitted today by Senator Simmons.
chairman of the finance committee.
lie announced, however. that next
Wednesday. the subcommittee would
begin framing the various schedules
and that they hoped to have the bill
ready for the finance committee by
June l. The Democratic caucus. he
said, would be called for considera-
ton OF tho bill about June 3, and an
effort will be made to report il to the
Senate the following week.
The decision today of the majority
members of the finance committee to
close all private hearings on the bin
next Tuesday has not met with Re
publican approval and an attack on
this plan is looked for in the senate
tomorrow. Senator Simmons insists.
however, that the private hearings
must be ended 10y that time so COM
mittee members can begin redratfing
the bill. The committee decided IN
print all briefs of manufacturers not
heretofore published and To receive
briefs until the bill reaches the SEN
ate floor.