The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-16
SENATE CHANGES
NOT TO HIS LIKING
President Talks Frankly and En-
phatically, Saying He Approves
Underwood Bill in It's En-
tirety, and Wants 1t to Go
Through-Opposition Is
Making Hard
Fight.
Especial 10 Tho Times-Dispatch. ]

Washington, May l5.-President
!" ilson this afternoon, during his
serniweekly talk with newspaper men,
stated with an emphasis he evidently
desired should be laid before the pub
lie, that he approved OF the Under
wood bill In it's entirety as 1t passed
the House, and would not submit to
any changes in the Senate.
For the nrst time since these talks
became a feature. the President allows
himself to be quoted as follows:
Just say that l am not the kind
that considers compromise when L once
take my position
Up 10 date the Senate Finance
Committee has adopted more than 200
amendments to the House measure.
Many of them are of minor character.
but the great majority OF them relate
to rates and essential features OF
tariff construction.
ItnnsdelI Fighting Hard.
While the President was declaring
his IEalterable fealty to free trade in
sugar and wool, Senator Ransdell, or
Louisiana, in debate on the floor OF
the Senate. was quoting the PreEi-
dents words in an effort to prove that
before election ne pooh-poohed the
idea of free trade. and declared in his
letter of acceptance that that was not
one of the principles OF the Demo
not believe in free trade
Quoting from Sir. Wilson's speech
at Pittsburgh, October l9 last, MIR.
Ransdcll read:
The Democratic party does not pro-
pose free trade or anything approach
ing free trade. IT proposes merely a
reconsideration of the tariff schedules
as will adjust them TO the actual bust
ness conditions and interests of the
country"
Quoting again from the Presidents
letter of acceptance, Senator Ransdell
threw this deliverance OF the President
at the heads of those who are with
Kim in his tariff fight: when we act
we should act with caution and pru-
dence, like men who know what they
are about, and not like those in love
with theory. 1t Is obvious that
ct such rate and in such a way as Will
least interfere with the normal and
healthful course OF commerce and
manufacture"
Ransdell read from an interview as
follows:
Governor Wilson is not for free
trade. He is not for drastic action of
any kind. He is willing to work
through series of years to accom-
plish the result OF tariff for revenue,
at which he aims. He is not disposed
in any way to inhict changes that
would upset and destroy business. His
views are clear and sound. and he has
no rash or hasty ideas"
Pledged to Free Sugar.
Notwithstanding two-thirds OF the
Democratic members OF the Finance
Committee favor duty on sugar as a
revenue raising proposition, the ma
jority members of that committee have
pledged themselves to the President to
report 4 free sugar and free wool bill
Senator Simmons, Stone, Williams,
Kern and Johnson all voted in COM
mittce and the Senate for dutiable
sugar. All of them are to-day urging
free sugar at the bequest of the Presi-
dent. Their alliance now with the
President for free trade has caused
tightening of the lines of opposition.
The Presidents ANNOUNCEMENT this
afternoon already has stffened up a
number OF Senator's who were inclined
to sit on the fence. The committse
managers have failed utterly to get
Senators Walsh and Newlands to agree
either to enter caucus or say what
they will do when the time comes to
vote on amendments to the bill These
two men hold the fate OF the tariff
bill in their hands. Their votes will
be sufficient to defeat the party's pro-
gram.
President Wilson, well-informed
Senator stated this evening. will he
brought face to face with compromise
before this tariff fight Is over and
duty may be placed on wool. 1t NAV
not be so large as the friends of those
two great American products ask but
1t will be duty
Late In the afternoon an agreement
was reached that the vote on Penrose,s
motion to order hearings shall be had
Tomorrow at 4 o'clock. It is believed
the hearings will not be ordered.
Under existing law the basis rate on
the cotton schedule is Is per cent ad
valorem. The House reduced this to
per cent. The subcommittee having
this in charge has tentatively agreed
10 raise II TO l-2 per cent, which is
so per cent cut. This 1-2 per cent
increase will expand all along the line.
IL mas been brought sharply to the
attention of the committee that the
rates In the House bill will greatly in
terfere with, the Southern mills manu-
facturing coarser grades of cotton
cloth.
Sharp Verbal Encounter.
Secretary Redfelds broad intimation
to business that the Fedeyal govern
mert would Investigate cuts in wages
that looked like reprisals for the pas
sage of the tariff bill brought out
sharp cross-flre of speeches to-day be-
tween Chairman Underwood and Rep
resentative Mondell. Republican, of
Wyoming.
Mr.. 'AIondell declared Representative
Underwood'sy statement that wage cuts
would be investigated could be for
given. because 1t was made in the heat
of debate"
Secretary Redfeld hnd no such ex-
cuse, he said.
Every right minded citizen" con-
(Contlnued on seventh PasAl