The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-04
The President EndeavOrs to
Bring About a Harmony
of Views
CONFERENCE WITH
SENATE LEADERS
Make Canvass of Democratic Senate
to Determine Pelicies-Important
Changes May Be Forced in
the Present Bill

Washington, April 3. s.-Completion of the
new tariff revision bill, the character of
the duty to be levied upon sugar, and the
extent TO which President Wilson will give
the support of the administration to the
completed measure. depended tonight upon
the success that might attend efforts
of the President to reach an agreement
with Senate tariff leaders.
The tariff situation shifted to the SEN
ate today with the prospect of much work
ahead of the chief executive to smooth
over disputed points, and to bring the
Senate, the House and his own views into
harmony before the new bill Is brought
out to the gaze of the public. Senators
Simmons, Stone and Hoke smith, all
members of the finance committee, had
long conference with President Wilson
this evening. At its conclusion Senator
Simmons, chairman of the committee,
said the conference had been in every
way satisfactory to the Senate MEM
bers.
sweeping canvass of the Senate has
been undertaken to determine just how
ldI dcilloCidtlC iueiuDci , VI ltidi pobJ WILL
go in support of the policies laid down by
the President. The decision to put raw
wool on the free list, and the threat of
free sugar have stirred up the democratic
forces of the Senate TO such an extent
that members of the finance committee
told the President tonight some important
changes would have 10 be made in the
present draft of the bill If it is to meet
with a cordial reception when it reaches
the Senate.
Confers With Hughes
The President also saw Senator Hughes
of New Jersey another member of the
finance committee, and radical revision
list, and Senator John w Kern, the DEM
ocratic leader of the Senate. His con-
ference with Senator Kern, which fol-
lowed that with members of the finance
committee, is understood to have given
the President a fairly accurate idea of
the sentiment prevailing in the Senate
over the proposed free wool and reduced
sugar duties, and over the sweeping re-
ductions II other rates that have been
determined upon by the House commit
tee on ways and means.
Today's developments included the prac-
tical completion of the bill by the House
ways and means committee along the
lines agreed to with The President.
1t appeared fairly certain tonight that
either the sugar duty would be compro-
missed at l cent per pound. possibly with
privosion that it should be entirely
abolished In three years, or that there
should be a gradual reduction of 25 per
cent per year from the existing duty until
it had disappeared.
The Senate leaders have bades it clear
that it would be impossible to pass a
bill carrying both free wool and free
sugar
No General Agreement
The Senate leaders did not reach any
general agreement with the President.
The results of their conference will
be laid before the full democratic mem
bership of the finance committee at
meeting called for 1890 o'clock tomor-
row morning. The determination OF
the committee then as to disputed
questions will guide Senator Simmons
in future conferences with the Pres
ident and with Chairman Underwood of
the ways and means committee.
1--WE went over all of the debated
points in the bill with the President
tonight" said Senator Simmons, 'and
the interview was very satisfactory to
the senators. 1t was agreed that the
democratic members of the finance
committee should meet tomorrow and
go over the ground. preliminary TO
further conferences with other mem
bers of the Senate, the President and
members of the House ways and means
committee"
No other statement was made by
Senator Simmons or by the other par
ties to the conferences.
An investigat which has been un-
der way for some time has brought out
strong opposition to the reductions
proposed by the House and sanctioned
by the President, in many important
schedules. 1t is understood that SEN
ate leaders insist many of these must
be changed If the new bill is to have
their support.
President Wilson made 1t known to-
day to visitors that he had not settled
in his own mind whether there should
be one general bill or series of sched-
ule bills. This feature is considered Of
high Importance both by the Presi-
dent and prominent democrats in the
Senate.
Presidents Attitude Important
House leaders are prepared to enact
the entire tariff revision with single
bill but the attitude of the President
will depend upon the rates that are
finally agreed to upon sugar and upon
certain food products still open to de-
bate.
Several members of the Senate
finance committee insist they will not
accept a general bill. A proposal now
is under consideration between the
President. the Senate and the House
leaders to have at least the wool and
sugar schedules put into separate bills.
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