The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-04-25
REPUBLICANS FIGHT
THOSE IN SENATE ATTACK FRAN
ERS OF DEMOCRATIC
CAUCUS.
CRY "SECRET LEGISLATION
Make Demand for Hearings of Finance
Committee Members-Wool
Schedule Approved Un-
changed by Caucus.


cratic tariff revision bill came in for
its first attack in the senate and the
sNrmsh outlined the scope and yigor
OF the fight that will be made against
it by Republican forces whom tariff
discussion begins in the two houses
Attack Secret Legislation"
Backed by requests from many in
terests for hearings on certain sec
tons Of the Underwood bill, Republi-
can senator's made a demand upon
members OF the finance committee for
hearings and openly attacked the "se-
crct legislation now going on in the
Democratic caucus Of house members.
Democratic senators who replied to
the attack made ii clear that the fl
nance committee does not plan to
grant any public hearings Senators
Williams and Stone insisted full hear
ings had been given by the house com
mittee before the bill was prepared
while Republican senators declared
these hearings had been of little value.
because the rates OF the UnderW God
bill were not then known
General Attack Planned.
With many complaints and obiec-
tions before them, Republican mem
bers of the senate are preparing for
a general attack on all .cnedules Of
the bill. Senator Smoot has put two
experts at work to analyze the Under
wood bin and previous measures, to
give the protectionist forces a basis
for their fight. Other Republicans
who claim that important Industries
would be wiped out by the Underwood
bill again Insist that business men
and laboring men should have an op-
portupity to be heard before the new
bill is passed
The Democratic house caucus work
ed over the Underwood bill througout
the day, upholding the Democratic
house leaders and President Wilson
upon all contested points.
The wooden schedule was under fire
throughout the session. Attempts to
put ready made clothing on the free
list and 10 alter other lists in the bill
were defeated.
Wool Schedule Unchanged.
After the wool schedule had been
approved without change, the caucus
disposed in short order of the silk,
pulp. paper and sundry schedules, vot-
ing down all the proposed amend
ments The free list was under con
sideration when the Democrats ad-
journed until today.
Paper Schedule Upheld.
In the pulp and paper schedule, Rep
resentative OIeary of New York
wanted to increase the rate Of - per
cent on pictures, calendars, labels,
books, pamphlets, engravings and etch-
ings to 25 per cent, but his efforts
were futile and the entire schedule
was approved as submitted by the
committee.
When the free list was reached the
attendance of the caucus had dwiudled
to a few members. An amendment
proposed by Representative Bartlett of
Georgia placing phosphoric acid on
the free list, was passed with but lit
tie opposition. The committee had
fixed the duty of two cents pound.
Representative Bartlett argued that
phosphoric acid was used in the pre-
paration of fertilizer and to tax it
would raise the price of fertilizer to
the farmer This was the second
change in the bill since the caucus
began its consideration week ago
shoe machinery having been the other
item.
The caucus has completed the free
list discussion and taken up the in
come tax. 1t will probably report the
bill to the house Monday