New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-26
FREE SUGAR AND WOOL
RUN CAUCUS GANTLET
Only Six Democratic Senators
Vote Against Basic Items
of the Tariff Bill.
MEANS PASSAGE IN SENATE
Leaders Believe That Not More
than Two of the Majority
Party Will Finally OPP
pose the Measure.

Washington, June 25-Free sugar and
free wool basic items in the Wilson.
Underwood tariff bill. ran the gantlet
OF the Democratic caucus in the Senate
to-day without change. Several amend.
ments providing for revenue rate on the
two commodities were rejected by en-
overwhelming vote, and when the ques-
ton Of approving the rates now in tho
tariff bill was reached only six Senators
were recorded as opposed to them in each
case.
The Senators voting against tho free
sugar item were Messrs Hitchcock. New-
lands. Ransdell, Thornton. Shafroth ana
Walsh
Senators in opposition to the free wool
provision were Messrs Chamberlaln.
Newlands. Ransdell. Shafroth. Thornton
and Walsh.
Three amendments were offered TO the
free sugar item. one, proposed by Sem
ator Thornton. providing for the aban-
Comment Of the clause making sugar .rce
after three years. was defeated 10 a.
Another. offered by Senator Shafroth.
providing for d rate Of approximately
one-half a cent pound the English rev
onue rate. at the end OF three years. was
defeated 10 10 49, The third. offered by
Senator Thompson. similar to the Sha-
froth amendment but providing that ~
the end Of the three-year period the rate
be reduced . per cent per annum until
sugar was entirely free, was also de-
feated
Only one amendment. by Senator
Walsh. was offered TO the free wool
clause. This provided a rate Of Is per
cent ad valorem on raw wool. with car
pet and clothing woods free. It was re-
jected, TO 81.
Democratic leaders interpret to-day's
action in caucus as an assurance that the
tariff bill will 20 through the Senate
without difficulty. only two Democrats
-Ransdell and Thornton, Of Louisiana -
have been regarded as unalteraably up-
posed TO the bin. The other four Sona-
tors who voted TO pat a revenue duty
on wool ana sugar will not vote against
the bill II is even possible that the two
Louisiana Senators may try TO secure d
release from their pledges to oppose tho
bill, or. at least, will not record them
selves when the final vote is taken
30 attempt has been made as vet b.
the caucus 20 bind the individual mem
bers 10 abide by It's decision. Some Z
the Senate leaders believe that the rule
providing that the action Of the cau.us
shall be binding under the tWo-third5
rule viii hold individual Senators in Inc.
In each case the caucus has stood for the
bill as drawn and approved by President
Wilson by more than a two-th!rds vote
The only point on which there is now
doubt Is whether Democratic Senator'S
will be- permitted 20 vote for amendments
TO the bin which are supported by the
Republicans. II is thought that the caI-
Gus rule covers this point. but u ;here
should he any doubt IT is probable that
the caucus viii take definite action 20
hold its members 90 the line.
After dispOsing of the sugar and. WCoi
items the caucus took up the agricultural
schedule and struck snag IN the pro-
vision for countervailing duty on Hour
and wheat. Strong opposition 10 these
provisions asserted Itself and the matter
vas allowed TO go over until tomorrow.