The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-05-10
STRIVE FOR PUBLIC
HEARINGS ON
TARIFF BILL
Republican Senators Battle
Against Democratic Program
MAY GET OPEN HEARINGS
Democratic Party Accused of Being
In League with Big Sugar
Corporations.

Washington, May 10.-Republicans
of the Senate leaped eagerly into
their fight against the Underwood
tariff bill when it was brought ov-
err from the House yesterday and
precipitated an issue by attempting
to override the decision of the demo
Gratis to consider the measure with
out public hearings. Forerunning
the assault that the republicans pro-
pose to wage against the schedules
from agate to zinc, Senator zen
rose sought to have the bill referred
to the finance committee with instruc
tons for public hearing after Sena-
tor Simmons, chairman of the COM
mittee, had moved for reference
without instructions. Action on TINS
phase was pending when the Senate
adjourned until Tuesday, several re-
publican leaders predicting that they
would win their contention and that
public hearings would be forced over
the heads of the finance committee.
Democratic leaders, however, dis
puted this prediction.
Speaking of the Penrose amend
ment, Senator William A. Smith OF
Michigan, in vigorous appeal for
consideration of the bill In open in
stead of "the darkness and gloom" or
the committee room, assailed the
tariff bill. He declared that 1t would
result in repetition of dark days"
that followed the Wilson bill, that
the sugar industry would be ruined,
that other industries would suffer
and that already business was falling
rapidly throughout the country.
Charging that free sugar in three
years would give the American sug-
ar refining company and the Federal
sugar refining company an option
which they would foreclose on the
property of the beet sugar interests,
their only domestic rivals Senator
Smith declared that the best sugar
industry, In which $4,000 persons in
Michigan alone were Interested,
would be wiped out. IF the Ameri-
can sugar refining company and the
Federal sugar refining company"
said Senator Smith, have made an
alliance with the democratic party,
it is an unholy alliance. Men who
have not shirked in committing
crimes to increase the volume OF
their business and who are now re-
spending to the will of the law,
make very poor allies for any poll
teal party"
Senator Thomas read to the SEN
ate an article from Troy IN. ~
newspaper in which an employe OF
the United States shirt company de-
clared that concern already had
threatened to reduce wages and in
other ways had attempted to coerce
its workers to use their influence |
against the Underwood bill. Speak |
ing for myself" said Senator Thorn
as, Il want to say here and now |
that tactics of this sort will produce |
any but desired results. | believe |
that an industry which resorts to |
this line of conduct In order that |
its employees may be coerced should |
meet the result of having placed on
the free list every article that en-
tiers into its line of business"
Il think 1t little less than brazen
effrontery," said Senator Smith of
Michigan, answering Mr.. Thomas,
"for the senator from Colorado to
make these Statements and to say
that the manufacturers shall not be
to complain about the bur
dens put upon them by this bill.
If you think by your threats you
can force silence on the part of EN-
ployers OF labor. you are making a
mistake" Continuing Senator
Smith declared that what the coun-
try suffered 20 years ago under the
Wilson bill. it was about to suffer
again.