Norwich bulletin., 1913-05-17
Certain Favored Interests Given Private Hearings
 on Tariff, Declares Senator Jones
PUBLIC HEARING AMENDMENT IS VOTED DOWN
Two Louisiana Democrats Unite With Republicans Sup port of Amendment Senator Smoot Predicts That Tariff Bill Will Put Democrats Out of Power for Quarter of Comprehension Manufacturers Statement

Washington, May 16.-Democraic leaders in the senate were endorsed late today in their determination to refer the Underwood tariff bill to the finance committee for consideration without public hearings. The Penrose- LaFollette amendment directing that public hearings be held was defeated by a vote of fl to 36. and the motion of Senator Simmons to refer the bill was then passed without a rollcall.
 Louisiana Democrats for Hearings
 Two democrats, Senators Ransdeu and Thornton of Louisiana, voted Cor the republican amendment. Senator POindexter of Washington, progress sive. voted with the majority. Senator Jones of Washington, republican, who previously had determined to vote against public hearings, announced just before the rOllcall that he had changed his mind because the finance subcommittee were giving private hearings to some interests which he thought should be public.
 James Champions Free Sugar
 The closing day of debate on the is sue of hearings was enlivened with discussion of the democratic platform and its bearing on free sugar by Sem etor James of Kentucky. who vigOr- ously defended the stand taken by President Wilson for free sugar, de- clared the party had stood for free sugar and campaigned on it, and de- fed the Louisiana senators to find g man President Wilson had ever told he was opposed to free sugar.
 Bill Will Knock Democrats Out.
 Senators Shoot LaFollette and Clark wound up the debate on beh 4lf of the public hearing amendment Senator Shoot predicting that the democratic party would be put out of power for another quarter of a cen a a nf Tar
 Senator Clark declared that the Un- deTwoOd bill was just as much a law today as it would be after the senate had voted upon it, and Senator La Toilette urged the democrats to court the open door policy.
 Yielding to Party Lash.
 The ediet has gone forth said Senator Clark The real vote on this rarif bill will be taken here as in the house, where t was taken in secret caucus ! know there are democrats who do not believe the bill is just and righteous altogether, who are willing to bow the head to the demands of office and ease the lash of party ex- peiiency-"
 Senator Walsh Of Montana was one CT the few democrats to enter the de- bate Mir Walsh said he was in re- ceipt of scores of telegrams urging him to vote for hearings. Most of them came from sugar interests. he said but he believed not a single fact could be elucidated in hearings that was not already known. and he would vote against them.
 Bill to Be Reported by June. 1.
 Senator Eewlands of Nevada spoke briefly on the sugar schedule, protest ing against sacrificing the sugar pro- auction of this country to Cuba.
 The finance committee will meet next week to hear reports from the sub-COmmfttees engaged in consider alton Of various schedules of the bill and Chairman Simmons hopes to re- port the bill to the senate by June l. Already quite g number Of minor changes have been suggested by the b-COmmittees- These will be con sidered in the party caucus to be call- cd before the bill is reported.