Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-23
TARIFF DEBATE
BEGINS IN HOUSE
Representative Underwood Will
Not Predict Date When Meas
ure Will Become Law.


House. Many members Of all three
parties, Democratic, Republican and
Progressive, had indicated desire
to make short speeches. and Chair
man Underwood. of the ways and
means committee, and the Demo-
cratic leader, had marshaled an array
for the opening of the fight for re-
vision.
Representative Garrett, of Tennes-
see, to whom Speaker Clark has re-
ferred as one of the best parliament
tarians in the House, will preside
throughout the debate while the bill
is technically before the House as a
Committee of whole House"
When the House convened Mr..
Underwood asked unanimous consent
that the general debate close when
the House adjourned Monday eve
ming. The Republican leaders and
Representative Murdoch. the Pro-
gressive leader, argued for some time
over the division of the minority
time between the Republicans and the
Progressives. 1t was finally agreed
to give the Progressives five hours OF
the minority time. Altogether about
fifty hours of general discussion in
the House will be allowed.
Other parliamentary mix-ups de-
layed things, and it was some time
before Mr.. Underwood began his
speech.
Era in Fiscal Rule.
1.-The enactment of this bill into law
will mark the end of an era in the
fiscal administration of this country
and the beginning of a new one" he
began, while the Democrats ap-
plauded. Mr. Underwood discussed
the origin of the present "high-tarin
SYSTEM" declaring that it was insti-
tuted as an emergency measure dur
ing the Civil War.
"These unjust war taxes" he said,
"have been maintained ever since,
and those who had amassed fortunes
under it have since controlled the
government, except for one brief in
terval."
In his discussion he followed close
ly the arguments outlined in the re-
port of the Democratic majority of
the ways and means committee.
"Our great responsibility" declared
Mr.. Underwood, SIS the interest and
rights of the great mass of consum-
ers among the American people. From
our viewpoint industry must be con-
sidered as secondary to the rights of
the consumer"
Referring to the increase in the cost
of living, Mr. Underwood said:
"a great proportion of this in
crease was caused by the abnormally
high protection given to the great
manufacturing interests of this
country under the Republican tariff"
Five Days of Debate.
Mr. Underwood reiterated today his
view that five days of general debate
and a week more for the reading of
the bill, with the privilege of five
minute speeches to each member,
would be sufficient in the House. He
has been comforting with senators
and has indicated that he believes the
bill will go through the Senate with
very little change from the form in
which it has run the gauntlet of the
House caucus.
Representatives Payne, Moore and
Fordney will make the principal
speeches for the minority of the ways
and means committee, the former
favoring Republican substitutes for
the wooden and cotton schedules, and
the other two making the fight
against the bill as a whole.
"Will you hazard guess as 10
when the tariff bill is likely to be-
come a law" Representative Under
wood was asked today.
ooh, no." he replied. Its impos-
sible for any man to guess that ac-
curately now"
Joint Conference.
Party conferences over the tariff
were resumed at the Senate end of
the capitol early today Democratic
members of the finance committee
met with a number of Democratic
senators from Western States, who
object to the abolition of all tariff on
wool and sugar. Republican members
OF the committee spent the day at
work over the bill.
The canvass of the Senate by the
Democratic leader. Senator Kern,
Chairman Simmons, of the finance
committee, and others, has convinced
Democratic leaders that the tariff
bill can be passed through the Sem
ate without change when the finance
committee finally determines its form.
Republican ranks are not united upon
the measure, however. Senator'S La
Toilette, Bristow, Cummins and 9TH
ers are working upon particular
features of the law and are not ex-
pected to support the view of the
Republican leaders upon all points.
Senator La Toilette has been author
lied to employ an expert to assist
him in preparation of substitutes for
many schedules of the bill he will
offer on the floor of the Senate when
the measure comes up.
Germany's Protest.
Germany, through it's ambassador
here, has protested against two ad-
ministrative features of the pending
tariff bill. One concern proposed ex-
animation of the books of German
exporting houses to ascertain domes-
tic sales prices to guard against I'M
LIBERALIZATION of exports. The other
protest is against the provision that
German goods imported in American
bottoms shah enjoy a deferential of
per cent. in duty. 1t is declared to
be in violation of treaties with Ger
many, which guarantee the vessels
of that country equality of treatment
with American vessels in the matter
of duties and charges.