Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-03
Free Raw Wool Debate Shows
Pronounced Division of
Sentiment.
INSURGENT DEMOCRATS
DEMAND RECOGNITION
Majority Leader Underwood Cham
pions the Bill in Behalf Of
President Wilson.

OCucuuIc H. lH6 AiuCn UleCUSScU, al
ways disputed wool tariff. upon which the
democrats maintain the republicans stum-
bled In their fan from power last fall and
over which their own party is divided
brought the tariff fight in the House to-
day to a climax.
1t was apparent early in the day that
free raw wool as projected in the admin
istration bill was In for q three-cornered
fight. the republicans, supported by some
of the progressives, demanding a duty of
about Is per cent, and the wool insur
gents Of the majority demanding 10 per
cent duty. which they claimed was the
original judgment of the ways and means
committee until President Wilson took a
hand.
Though approved by the democratic
caucus after fight of two days, and
almost certain to come through the
House unscathed, the wool schedule
brought out the heaviest oratorical ar
predictions that free raw wool would not
stand the fire In the Senate, but would
eventually come back to the House
with duty and receive the solid
democratic support
Underwood as Champion.
Majority Leader Underwood cham
pioned the schedule with all his force
on behalf of the ways and means COM
mittee and the President. As he did in
caucus. Mr.. Underwood declared the
President was as much entitled to con-
sideration in the making of the tariff
as any other citizen. and he lauded him
for his general approval of the meas
ure as 1t came originally from the
committee.
The open secret that the ways and
means CnrUUntttao hod fa
per cent tax on raw wool was freely dis
cussed in the debate. and that the final
vote Of the democratic members In COM
mittee was not unanimous one was
openly declared and unchallenged.
Many Of the democrats. freed from the
binding rule of the caucus. were out
spoken in their opposition to the sched-
ule. the protesting majority members
other western states. Those who voted
against II in the caucus, but who agreed
TO stand by the majority. were silent In
today's discussion. which promised to
continue tonight.
Voice Of the Opposition. s
Representative Payne of New York,
for several of the republican minority
members Of the ways and means COM
mittee, offered a substitute for the
entire wool schedule of the tariff. His
cratic wool rates and substitute the
provisions OF the republican wool re-
vision bill introduced by himself at
Representative Murdoch of Kansas,
progressive leader. gave notice that he
also had an amendment to offer on the
wool schedule.
proposed a compromise duty on raw wool.
which the Underwood bill makes free, and
Representative Moore of Pennsylvania,
for the standpat tariff men on the repub-
lican side, spoke against the democratic
wooden schedule. but declared 1t unwise
to offer any amendments to 1t. as it was
foreordained that the democrats would re-
tain their schedule intact.
The wooden schedule was then read.
under an understanding between the
leaders that allowed three and one-half
hours Of general debate.
Mr.. Underwood urged that purely polit-
ical speeches be avoided on both sides of
the House.
Provisions of Payne's Substitute.
The Payne substitute would levy specific
duties on the secured contents ofthe wool
and II divides all woods into two ciassifi-
cations. class one including merino, mes
tia. down clothing. Bagdad, China lambs
and Adrianople woods and woods imported
rum BueiiOS tlISs. New LedldnQ, Russia,
Great Britain and Canada; class two con-
sisting of South American native, cor
dova. Smyrna, Turkish, Grecian and
Syrian woods. The substitute proposes
duty of Is cents a pound on wool OF
class one imported in the grease. and 10
cents a pound IL scoureu when imported.
The proposed duty on woods of class two
imported in the natural condition is Z
cents a pound, and 10 cents if secured
In class two the bill would provide
for a drawback equal to the duties
paid, less ! per cent on woods con-
sumed in the manufacture Of carpets,
mats. rugs, screens. hassocks. etc. The
enect OF this Is TO make carpets prac-
IDEALLY free of duty, the argument
being that no carpet woods are grown
in this country. The yarns in the sub
stitute are classified according to valu-
atoms. ranging from so cents to $3.50
q pound. the rates being on thirty -cent
wool 21iz cents a pound and 10 per
cent ad valorem additional. and gradual
ing up 10 26 cents per pound with IS per
cent ad valorem additional on woo,ens
valued 10 more than 81. 50 a pound. The
average reduction from the rates in
the present act is 40 per cent.
Result of Yesterdays Debate.
After a field day OF oratory in which
facts. near-facts, politics. poetry and
wit competed for the limelight, the
House adjourned last night at lO:4O.
having during the day disposed Of the
agricultural, wines and spirits. cotton
and hemp. max and jute schedule OF
the tariff bills.
NOT TO BLOCK HIS PROBE.