Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-07

Underwood. chairman of the House
ways and means committee. The
opinion prevails that the President
will not assent to separate bills and
viii insist that one bill carry all the
schedules
The sub iect of one or more bills was
discussed for an hour this morning with
seven of the democratic members or the
Senate finance committee-.Seantors SIM
mons Williams. James Hughes, Stone,
ShiveIy and Gore. All favored separate
bills and presented strong arguments for
this method as the best for the demo-
cratic party and the facilitation of bust
ness Senators Smith. Johnson and
Thomas of the committee were absent.
Will Continue His Debate.
When Intercepted as to his position
during the dav thc President frankly adj
mitted that there are strong arguments
both ways and that he had Jumped the
fence" more than once sto whether one
bill or separate bills is most desirable
He would continue to debate the matter
in his mind
One of the arguments used against sep
arate bills is that this method probably
will result in putting through all the
schedules as recommended by the ways
and means committee except free sugar
and free wool. The President and his
party will then be confronted with the
accusation that they have not made good
their promises to the people. In favor OF
this method is the argument that it is
better to be sure of getting this much in
the way of legislation than thespossibility
Of a botched and unsatisfactory bill that
would run the risk of a veto from the
White House Discussion of single bills
too. it is pointed out. would be much
clearer and would enable the country to
get more daylight than If a whole bill
is pushed through at one time.
Hostility in the Senate.
In view of the hostility to free sugar
and to free wool in the Senate. greatly
endangering the democratic majority in
that body. the President has been told
that one bill. carrying everything might
be defeated through a combination of
those Directing to these two schedules.
ON the other hand, the President is told
that the opponents of free sugar and free
wool are after separate bills because they
are sure to defeat these propositions II
brought UP sfngly.
BY putting everything in one bill and
throwing the whole influence of the adj
ministration back of it at every stage
there is a chance to put it through, the
President is told. and that is the strong
est argument with him up to this time.
The President intimated pretty
strongly today that if there is serious
danger of a tariff bill along democratic
lines being defeated in Congress he
may go to the country direct and make
speeches that will arouse public opin-
ion and force further consideration. He
IL prepared to stay here all summer
and into next fall. IL necessary to full
fill the pledges made in the democratic
platform at Baltimore.
Danger Is Apparent.
That there is more danger than
democrats are willing to admit was ap-
parent from the very earnest argu-
ments of the democratic finance COM
mittee members to the President to-
day. Those present, with few excep-
tons. are party men of the first water
and are thinking of the party first as
to legislation.
They intimated mighty strongly to Mr.
Wilson that a single tariff bill may mean
no tariff at ALL unless there is help from
progressive republicans. The President,
therefore. is confronted with prospects
OF a hot fight from the start. and with
possible disruption Of party lines and Of
the party in some states.
The Presidents purpose OF giving his
first utterances to Congress direct and
In person. instead Of through the old IA
miliar channels. was believed TODAY to
have been prompted by knowledge Of
the serious situation that confronts him
and by a determination to keen close to
Congress throughout the whole contro-
versy.
Gives His Reasons.
In explanation of his going to Congress
personally tomorrow the President today
gave these reasons to inquiring news
paper men who assembled in his offices
and asked many questions:
The reasons are very simple. gentle
men. ] think that that is the only dig
nif1ed way for the President to address
the House on the opening Of the session
instead of sending the address up by
messenger and letting the clerk read it
perfunctorily In the familiar clerks tone
of voice. l thought that the dignified
and natural thing was to read 1t. 1t Is a
precedent. which il is true. has been dis
: continued a long time, but which is a very
respectable precedent.
Wants Wide-Open Caucuses.
The President today declared himself
in favor Of open caucuses of democrats
of House and Senate upon the tariff and
other questions. Representative Mitchell
Palmer had talked TO the President on
this point and had advocated the open
door to the public in all gatherings of
the democratic statesmen.
I've always favored an open caucus
declared the President. when asked as
10 his attitude.
The position of the President is that II
the people know what is going on all the
time and are not kept out of the legis-
lative and party secrets In the Capitol
public sentiment will crystalline here much
quicker than heretofore and that there
VIII be prompt response to the demands
OF the voters. whatever those demands
may be. The President is said to be-
heve that daylight all through the halls
OF Congress will mean a tariff bill salts
factory to the country, whether 1t is
passed by democratic votes only or by
democrats aided by progressiyes from the
republican side.
Attends Second Presbyterian Church
At the Second Presbyterian Church
22d and q streets, the President wor-
shipped yesterday. again eluding the
curious. He took communion with the
congregation. Mrs. Wilson and Miss III
W. Bones accompanied the President
Being communion Sunday, the sermon
delivered by the pastor. Rev. Andrew
q. Bird. was brief After leaving the
Church the President took an auto
mobile ride into the suburbs.
In the afternoon in the course of a
walk. accompanied only by secret serv-
Ice agents, the President made a call