The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-24
AIR FILLED WITH
TARIFF RUMORS
Reported That Senator Walsh
May Desert Democrats
on Vote.
WOULD RESULT IN TIE
Wool and Sugar Still Stumbling
Blocks Which Are Causing
Trouble.
RESULT IN TIE

Washington, May 2s.-wool and
sugar, the stumbling blocks of the
tariff, held the attention OF the Senate
Finance subcommlttees and Senators in
general to-day. the legislative air be
ing filed with rumors of contempia ted
changes and alliances and counter ru-
mors OF further tightening OF the
administration forces for free wool and
free sugar in three years. Great in
terest WAS attached to q public state
ment made by Senator Walsh. of Mon
tana, condemning the proposition to
put wool and sugar on the free list,
which gave rise to report that he
might join with Senators kansdell and
Thornton, Of Louisiana, and vote
against the bill.
In that case. the Senate Democratic
majority being only six. the vote on
the tariff bill would he tie. necessi-
tating the vote OF Vice-President Mar
shall to pass it. Should this develop
there are some Democrats who believe
that Senator PoindeXter. OF Washing
ton, the only avowed Progressive in
the Senate. would vote with them on
the Bill. This would give leeway for
another Democrat TO desert in the final
vote
Expect Interesting Session.
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 an interesting
session in the party caucus when the
Southern and Western Representatives
will have an opportunity to make a
determined struggle against free wool
and free sugar. y 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 Walsh should
l,r, Il CT 1 mo
apparent that the caucus would not
yield on sugar and wool.
william Whitman, always a leader of
the wooden interests in tariff considera-
ton. had an interesting hour with Sem
ator stones subcommittee attacking
the woolen manufacturers schedule.
Dir. Whitman declared that the pro-
posed duties on wool manufactures
were 80 per cent less than the rates
in the Wilson tariff act. which he said
was supposed to be n free trade bill.
Senator James urged that economic
conditions In production justified n diff
ference of 80 per cent at this time. as
compared TO conditions when the VIII
son law was enacted.
Asked If 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 a large supply of raw wool bought
be at disadvantage In working this
OFF, while other manufacturers were
buying and manufacturing with wool
purchased on free duty basis. He
declared that foreign manufacturers
had enormous amounts of WOODEN goods
stacked away ready to put on the
American market as soon as the pro-
posed bill becomes law
JULIUS Forstmann Of Passaic, " j..
also appealed for an extension of the
time when the schedule should be-
come effective. He urged that tho raw
wool schedule should not take, effect
until three months after passage and
that the duties on woolen manufac-
tures six months after. I'm order to give
the trade an opportunity TO work off
goods manufactured under present
tariff conditions.
Rect Sugar Wen Protent.
Henry T. Oxnard, recognized as the
head OF the delegation representing the
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