The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-28
MAIN TARIFF QUESTIONS.
SUGAR AND WOOL WILL COME UP
BEFORE SENATORS.
Possible That Senator Walsh of Mon
tana May Vote Against Tariff, when
Tie viii Result, Causing Vice-pres-
ident Marshall to Cast Deciding
VOte-SituatiOn Considered Favor
able.

Washington, May 23.-WOol and
sugar, the stumbling blocks of the
tariff, held the attention Of senate
finance subcommittees and senators
in general today, the legislative air
being filled with rumors of cOntem-
plated changes and alliances and
counter rumors of further tighten
ing of the administration forces for
free wool and free sugar in three
years. Great interest was attached TO
a public statement made by Senator
Walsh of Montana, condemning the
proposition to put wool and sugar on
the free list which gave rise to a re-
port that he might join with Sena-
tors Ransdell and Thornton of Louis
lana and vote against the bin.
In that case, the senate Democratic
majority being onlX six, the vote on
the tariff bin would be a tie. neces-
stating the vote of Vice President
Marshall to pass 1t. Should this de-
velop there are some Democrats who
believe that Senator Poindexter IF
Washington, the only avowed Pro-
gressiye in the senate, would vote
with them on the BILL This would
give lee way for another Democrat to
desert In the inal vote.
Administration leaders declared to-.
day that the situation relating to the
much disputed schedules looked very
favorable for the Underwood bill, but
they look forward to another session
In the party caucus when the South
ern and Western representatives will
have an opportunity to make a deter
mined struggle against free wool and
free sugar A rumor that several of
them would unite to remain out of the
caucus was denied by party leaders.
though one OF them declared that he
would not blame Senator q Walsh
should he determine TO stay out II
1t became apparent that, the caucus
would not yield on sugar and wool.
William Whitman. always~a leader
OF the woolen interests in tariff con-
sideration. had an interesting hour
with Senator Stones subcommittee.
attacking the wooden manufacturers
schedule. Mr.. Whitman declared that
the proposed duties on wool manu-
factures were 80 per cent less than
the rates I'm the Wilson tariff act,
which he said was supposed to be q
free trade bill. Senator James urged
that economic conditions in produc-
tion justified difference of 80 per
cent at this time as compared to con-
ditions when the Wilson law was en-
acted.
Asked IL free raw wool would not
prove beneficial to his interests, Mr..
Whitman. said 1t might eventually. At
present, he said, his company had on
hand large supply OF raw wool
bought under the tariff rates and he
would be at a disadvantage in work.
ing this off while other manufacturers
were buying and manufacturing with
wool purchased on n free of duty
basis.
He declared that foreign manufac-
turers had enormous amounts OF
woolen goods stacked away ready to
put on the American market as soon
"a the proposed bill becomes a law.
julius Forstmann of Passaic, n. j.,
also appeared for an extension Of the
time when the schedule should be-
come effective. He urged that the
raw wool schedule should not take
effect until three months after the
passage OF the act and the duties on
woolen manufactures six months
after. I'm order to give the trade an
opportunity to work off goods manu-
factured under present tariff condi-
tions.
Henry T. Oxnard. recognized as the
head OF the delegation representing
the beet sugar interests, appeared be-
fore Senator Williams subcommittee
to protest against the proposed sugar