Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-10
Would Win ProgressiveS to
Tariff Bill by Making
Concessions.
UNABLE TO GIVE PLEDGE
AS TO ITS FINAL FORM
Necessity of Getting the Measure
Through Conference an Obstacle
to Compromises.

Some of the democratic senators last
night were speculating to what amend
ments in the tariff bill would be neces-
sary for them to win the votes of Sen
ator Kenyon OF Iowa. progressive re-
publican. and Senator PoindeXter of
Washington. progressive.
In a speech yesterday afternoon on the
tariff Senator Kenyon deplored the fact
that the democrats had not framed a
bill which he conscientously could sup
port and declared that he would like
very much to have an opportunity to
vote for a reduction of the Payne -Aldrich
rates. Senator Kenyon, however, has de-
nounced the democratic bill on the ground
that 1t discriminates against the farmers
of the northwest. and has refused to sup
port il unless some of the products of
the farm which have been placed on the
free list are taxed.
An attempt to negotiate for an early
vote on the tariff bill was made by
Chairman Simmons of the finance COM
mittee and Assistant Democratic Leader
Lewis, who conferred with Senator SmoOt
of Utah. representing the regular re-
resenting the progressive wing of the re-
publican membership of the Senate.
Unable to Give Guarantee.
suggestion was made by the demo-
Gratis that duties be placed on wheat and
other farm products If the republicans
would cease their long speeches on dis
elimination against the farmer" They
were asked il they could give assurances
that when the bill came from conference
these duties would be returned. Senator
Simmons said that he could give no such
assurance, and the negotiations for a
Aoxy xxy1i iOh h0 yyrta "a no
in the Senate ended temporarily. They
probably will be resumed next week.
When the bill was taken up for con-
Sideration in the Senate an amendment
offered by Senator Burton of Ohio, in
creasing the rate of duty on scissors and
shears, was discussed at length 1t was
defeated by the democrats.
Senator Kenyon made a strong plea to
the democrats to live up to their plat
form and put on the free list all the
art. .cles entering into competition with
tr-c.-slade goods. He offered an amend
ment. which was not acted upon. placing
the products Of the aluminium trust on
tie free list. Senators Reed of Missouri
and Pomerene of Ohio, declared that they
believed the Iowa Senator Wa light
fr MS contention, and admitted that he
had made a strong case against the
aluminium trust, or the Aluminium Com
pany of America.
Faults of Sherman Law.
During Senator Kenyon's speech he un-
Intentionally led the Senate into a brief
debate on the failure Of the Sherman act
as a criminal statute. He said that If
one man, convicted of violation of the
Sherman act, were sent to jail 1t would
do more than anything else to make the
trusts observe the law. Senator Nelson
wanted to know IL the unwillingness Of
juries to convict under the act was not
more to blame for the fact that violators
had not been sent to jail than the action
Of judges.
Senator Kenyon said that it had beer
his experience that great business or
ganizations reached out through all walk.
of life. and that 1t was exceedingly diff
cult to secure juries not subject to this
influence. He suggested that education
was the prime requisite to insure en-
forcement of the statute.
Senator Borah expressed the opinion
that juries were unwilling to convict mel
of a criminal offense In the formation o.
an unlawful combination because in mos
instances these combinations had beer
formed with the connivance and con
sent OF the government. Juries know
ing this fact he argued, were loath {,
convict. The law, he said, should specif,
the unlawful acts IL was designed I,
prove.
Senator Colt ,\who was a United State
circuit judge before he came to th
Senate, resented any implied reflection
upon the courts. He said that the rule
Of evidence and the safeguards put abou
man under trial for a criminal offens
by the common law made il difficult I,
obtain a conviction. He said the rule
OF criminal procedure are hard TO appl,
10 an industrial question