New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-14
WOOL MEMS FIGHT
ON TARIFF FRU|TLESS
Presidents Victory in Caucus
on Sugar Indicates Approval
of Whole Measure.
UNDERWOOD SAVES DAY
Majority Leaders Speech Up
holding White House Schedule
Prevents Wilson'S Humilia-
ton on Two Main Items.
From The Tribune Bureau J

Washington. April 13.-When the House
Democrats resume consideration in eau
Gus tomorrow Of the tariff bill it will
be- with the knowledge that the measure
viii be approved without material change
owing TO the remarkable steadfastness OF
Representative Underwood in support Of
"a bill not wholly TO his likns.
Gossip in legislative circles here to-day
has largely centred about the speech
made by Mr.. Underwood in the secrecy
of the caucus chamber Saturday after
noon which was followed by caucus APP
proval Of the Wilson-made rates of the
sugar schedule. The administration prob
ably Will accord TO the majority leader
the fun credit due him. for il was this
speech which admittedly saved the Presi-
dent from the humiliation of having mis-
compromise SUGAR schedule rejected
Nevertheless. Nj Underwood acknowl-
edged that the rates on sugar were not
made by the Ways and Means Committee
and he frankly told the caucus that the
committee itse;f was i'm favor Of free
sugar. as was provided in the then pend
ing amendment TO reject the Wilson pro-
posal for p per cent reduction now and
free sugar in three years.
Yielded to President on Raw Wool.
When the raw wool item is reached in
caucus Mr.. Underwood also must tell the
caucus that he is personally opposed to
free raw wool. but that ne and the COM
mittce yielded to the President The vote
OF sugar indicated clearly that there *
little hope for members who are seeking
TO overturn the committee bin and 10
pisce "A duty on raw wool.
Not Until to-day has the average Demo-
ratio member Of the House realized fully
the part PLAYED ty the President in the
framing of the bill presented to the eau
Gus by the Ways and Means Committee,
which heretofore has had undisputed
sway Of tariff matters in the iower body.
Tho fact that the President has virtual
IS dictated two of the most important
schedules in the tarid-sugar and wool
was uuintendonally. perhaps. driven home
by the House floor leader when ne be-
sought the caucus to save the face o.
the President"
The admission 10y Mr. Undervo cd that
the majority members OF the WAYS ana
Means Committee favored immediate free
sugar as provided i'm the Underwood bill
OF the last session. but had yielded to the
Pr sdent. was the most effective argu-
ment made in support % the new bill.
1t was probably Unprecedented I'm the
history of tariff making, ana il demon
stIated clearly for the first time that while
MIR. Underwood and his committee col
leagues will champion the bill. il is not
the measure which would have been re-
ported had the committee been left to its
own devices.
Must Explain Party's Reversal
Democrats to-day acknowledge that the
rarty leaders in the House must meet
as best they may the criticism incident to
q decided reversal Of policy so far As the
WAYS and Means Committee is concerned
M Underwood told the caucus that ne
was willing to bear the brunt Of such
criticism If party harmony resulted there
by. When the bill gets i'm the House
tho Alabaman must shoulder the burden
Of explaining why his party stood for free
sugar and dutiable wool year ago,
while it espouses to-day dutable sugar
and free wool.
The Democrats OF the wool growing
states have organized against the provis-
ion puttiug raw wool on the free list, but
NJ Cnderwood's success in winning over
the caucus 10 the Wilson rates on sugar
has made il certain that the opposition
TO the wool rates will be ineffective.
Probably two score Of the wool Demo-
Gratis will protest against the free listing
Of that product and will be absolved from
abiding by the caucus action. but their
strength will not be sufficient 10 over
turn the schedule either in the caucus or
in the House.
1t IS also expected that the big free
list applying to agricultural products,
partly Of the Presidents making. will be
approved by the caucus tomorrow. de-
spite the opposition OF Democrats from
the Middle Western states.
The caucus tomorrow will take up the
agricultural schedule. and ii is now
hoped to have the tariff bill ready for de-
late in the House on Wednesday.