Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-14
LENGTHY LETTER
ST|RS THE SENATE
Long Dissertation From
Michigan Democrat De-
nounces Free Sugar.
SENATOR RANSDELL
STARTS SHARP DEBATE
Republicans Push Public Hearings
Issue as Opening Wedge in Fight
on Tariff Bill.

The unaiterabIe opposition OF the Loui
eiana senator's TO the Underwood tariff
bill. so far as II relates to sugar, wa
made manifest in the Senate this after
noon when Senator Ransdell had read
letter from "A good democrat in Mich
iyan." denouncing the attitude of the adj
nnInistration toward the sugar industr.
of the country. which. IL was declared
would be absolutely ruined if the suga
schedule as proposed was enacted int
law
THE democrats in Congress" said TIT
letter. ARE hell bent on reducing th'
cost of living. even though they re
duce the standards of democracy"
The letter asked whether free trad,
is to be inscribed on the democratic,
coat of arms. and whether free sugar
is expected Ito do as much for tht
country as was free silver in the
past
II was denied by the writer that free
sugar would benefit the consumer. and
he insisted that ii would put the sugar
industry of the country out of business
The letter was twenty-three pages long
and senator's on the democratic side raiS-
I'd ohjetciors 10 its being read. but Sena
Tor RdnSdtll announced mat II ODJeCtlof
made To the reading of the letter
by the clerk. he would undertake TO read
the letter himself.
Considered Excellent Argument.
At the conclusion OF the reading of the
letter Senator Ransdell declared that he
had laid it before the Senate because he
considered ii an excellent argument in
support of the sugar industry of the coun-
try. 1t was written by man who has
always supported the democracy he
continued. "a man who supported Wood
row Wilson for President, and did every
thing in his power tn aid in his election.
Senator Ransdell said that the people
Of Louisiana We're Clamorng for the
right to be heard by the Senate tinanc.
committee.
Senator James of Kentucky interrupted
TO ask if the Louisiana people had not
been given ample opportunity to be heard
by the House ways and means commit
tee
They We're given exactly forty five
minutes by the WAYS and means com
mittee.' replied Senator Ransdell. Thai
may be considered complete hearing
by the senator from Kentucky but it il
not SO in my opinion
Senator Ransdell charged that it was
the sugar trust. the refiners which would
be benefited by free sugar. Senator Sim
II IL was not true that the finance com
mittee had given unlimited hearings &c
the sugar people during the considera-
ton last year of the House sugar bill
Sugar Men Demand Last Word.
That may be So" replied Senator
Ransdell. but when a man is to be pu,
10 death. even if he is criminal. he is
allowed a last word, and that IS what the
people of Louisiana are demanding The
great party of which l am member is
about to put to death the greatest in
dustry in my state. which has existed
over 100 years, and always with a tariff
Senator Sheppard of Texas. rising to a
question of personal privilege soon
after the Senate assembled, declared
that published report to the effect
that he would vote with the repub-
lcans. against the democratic majority.
in favor of public hearings on the tariff
bill was absolutely unfounded in fact.
1t is expected that the debate over
the Penrose motion directing that the
finance committee be instructed to
grant hearings, and Senator La Fol-
lette's amendment TO the motion will
be debated at length this afternoon.
Senate republicans We're again ready
today to prolong consideration of the pub
lie hearings issue they rave raised as the
opening wedge in their fight on the Tn
derwood bill
Penrose-La Toilette Amendment.
Senator Penroses amendment to Sena-
tor Simmons reference motion has now
become the Penrose-La Toilette amend
ment the Pennsylvania having accepted
4 proposal that manufacturers be re-
duired TO answer sixteen questions relat-
ing to production and transportation costs
here and abroad. and the percentages of
duty that represent cost differences and
profits.
Democratic leaders deny they have any
fear of letting the public hearing amend
ment come to vote. 1t was in the midst
of the debate yesterday that Senator Ba-
ION moved for an executive sessions. and
that gave rise to rumors that the majority
wanted more time to rally opposition to
the republican attack.
The democrats point. however, TO the
tote of forty-eight to thirtyfour on the
motion for an executive session as an in
dication of strength against open hear
ings.
When the discussion was resumed Il,
noon today IL seemed unlikely that a
vote would he reached. as the Kern reso-
luton directing an inquiry into West Vir-
ginia coal-field conditions was the untin-
ished business to he taken UP at o'clock
Manufacturers Ask for Hearings.
y small army of manufacturers ap-
pealed for private audience today with
chairnen of the finance committees in
charge of the various schedules. More
than a score of chemical manufacturers
waited IN the hall adjoining the room
where the subcommittee considering the
chemical schedule was in session. They
We're told 10 return tomorrow.
Another group, WOO, manufacturers. be-
sieged Senator stones subcommittee arm
I'd with protests against the cuts In
manufactures of wool. Some will be
heard before ,he subcommittee finishes
its work.
Senator Lodge had read in the Senate
a memorial from the Massachusetts leg
stature urging no tariff Dill be passed
other than one baIed on protective prin-
e Piles. Attached was Gov. Foss' ad.
dress on reciprocity.
Simmons-Penrose Fight.
senator Simmons. chairman of the
finance committee. and Senator Penrose,
leading the republican fight to refer the
Underwood bill. with instructions for pub