New-York tribune., 1913-07-26
ADMITS TARIFF BILL
IS LACKING IN LOGIC
Senator Williams Complains
That Republicans Had Placed
Industries on Stills.
COULDN'T EVEN BOTH LEGS
Bristow and Reed Inject Parti-
sanship Into Debate and
Little Progress Is Made
on Amendments.
GFrom The Tribune Bureau. !


Washington. July 25--Onslaughts by
the Republicans on the Democratic tariff
provisions affecting potatoes. rice and
bananas failed to make any impression
on the majority to-day and the work OF
approving the committee amendments 70
the bill went on according to the Demo
cratic programme.
Senator Bristow vas the most persist
ent critic of the Democratic bill. TAX
ing as a text the fact that the Demo
Gratis had placed potatoes on the free list
and imposed n duty on dextrine. or
starch made from potatoes. he insisted
that the tariff policy embodied In the bill
had been TO afford protection TO manu-
facturers and to place the farmers on a
free trade basis. When the Democrats
replied with the argument that potatoes
were an article OF food. he retorted that
they did not seem TO take the same view
OF rice and bananas.
Rice is not, basic article OF food"
explained Senator Williams, 'in the same
sense that potatoes and wheat are. Nor
are bananas. The banana industry is en-
tireIy IN the control OF the United Fruit
Company and we fixed the rate with the
idea of raising revenue without impos-
ing a burden upon the consumer. The
rate is so small that there will bs no
change in the retail price OF bananas."
"Can the Senator explain why duty
has been left in almost every case on
manufactured products. when farm prod
ucts are made free?' asked the Senator
from Kansas.
No Logic in tho Bill.
There is no thread Of logic running
through this bill" replied Senator VIII
iams. I'VE took conditions as We found
them. The trouble is that you had placed
industries on stills. We are trying 10
bring them to a natural basis as best W.
can There was no thread OF logic in the
present law which We could follow. So
far as we can. we are abolishing the
duty on necessities and reducing II on
manufactured products, as We are hold
ing 10 our promise that no legitimate in
dustry shall be destroyed
This prompted Senator Cummins to ask
why the Democrats had not cut or
little OF both stilted legs. instead o'
leaving the industrial body crippled. With
the manufacturing leg longer than the
agricultural leg"
| II aCree with the Senator from Ms
sissippi." said Mr. Cummins, that the
Payne-Aldrich law gave the American
| legs stills that were too high, but !
think the way 10 correct the trouble IS 10
saw off a fair length from both leGs.
But the Senator from Mississippi would
saw off one leg entirely and leave the
other where it was. thus leaving very
disiointed and perverted industrial body
He should leave the agricultural leg 10
shorter than the manufacturing leg
Indulge in Partissnshlp.
/ Senators Bristow and Reed had Wordy
conflict over the tariff on wool grease
which extended into partisan argument
The Senator from Kansas asked Senator
Reed II he believed in free lead and zinc
which come from Missouri.
| II voted fer them in the caucus sao
/ Senator Reed.
Are you going 10 vote for them now
asked Mr.. Bristow.
NO, because I am going 10 support ths
view Of the majority" said Mr. Reed.
Then you believe in caucus lessa'
, tom
! No" Senator Reed replied. but / 20
believe in supporting a policy when a.
have agreed upon II | would vote toI
nothing except what l favored Wou'u
have to write the whole bill But theie
/ is a caucus that is far more binding tn@h
any other. and that is the orgsnlzauoh
OF the interests which have conrohs'
and financed and for years made CATS
paw of the Republican party.
And your party has written OH"
Senator Bristow hotly rejoined. "whicn
is more for the benefit OF those tnteres"
than any tariff bill ever presented
places on the free list articles OF nlus
pendent manufacture, and protects tho'e
manufactured by the trusts"
When the Senate adjourned, argumep'
had so delayed progress in the cnem'cs
schedule that less than ten paragraphs
had been approved during the day.