Arizona republican., 1913-07-03
SECRET CAUCUS RAISES STORM
 IN THE HOUSE
Progressives and Republi- cans Complain Because They Are Not Allowed to Attend Meetings of the Majority Members.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH l 7 4 SHINCTnN I1lV- D The

ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPATCHl
 WASHINGTON, July 2.-The meth
 Ods of the democrats of the hous,
 banking currency committee in consid
 eration of the administration currenc!
 bill caused a small storm in the house
 today. Representative Lindburgh, {;
 progressive member of the committee
 after complaining as a matter of per
 sonaI privilege that he was not allowed
 to attend the meetings Of the majority members in considering the bill asked
 that the house adopt at once a reso- lution providing for an investigation ot the committees conduct Speaker Clark prevented a consideration of the meas ure by parliamentary ruling.
 The republican members of the com mittee have been complaining bitterly of the consideration of the bill by the democrats in d secret session" yester- day and adopted a resolution condemn ing the practice. Chairman Glass in a statement tonight said: "I do not be- heve that partisan politics should or could be put in the currency bill. At the same time we legislate by parties in this country and right now it is up to the democratic party to enact legis- latiOn or to admit it's incOmpetency to deal with the subject"
 When Senator Hitchcock withdrew from the democratic tariff caucus to- day because that body had voted down his amendment that would put a grad uated income tax on tobacco produc- tion he precipitated the liveliest time the senate democrats have had since they began consideration of the tariff meas ure
 Hitchcock's revolt which was later declared not to mean that he had with drawn from the party, or that he did not support the party measure, served to determine that there would not be an amending of the resolution adopted by the caucus pledging the senators to support the bill as ratified and to re- frain from the introducing of amend ments not proposed by the finance committee majority, and not to sup port any amendments offered from the republican side.
 It was because he anticipated such a resolution that the Nebraska senator announced he would not remain in the caucus. He said he intended to intro dure the tobacco tax amendment in the senate and lead the fight there for it's adoption. Many of his colleagues who supported him on vote for the amendment pleaded with him to re- main in the room assuring him he would be granted the privilege of bringing up an amendment without taking such a drastic course. Hitch cock declared however that no other course was open and he left the room tonight while the excitement was at it's height
 The vote on the amendment was twenty three to eighteen senators supporting it being Ashurst. Bacon, Clark of Arkansas; Fletcher, Hitch cock, Hollis, Kern, Lea, Maritime, Myers Newlands, Ogorman, POmer- enc, Robinson, Salisbury. Shepard. | Shields and Vardaman. All the mem 1 bers of the finance committee voted l against the amendment.
 The caucus adjourned tonight until | tomorrow afternoon when it will have | before it the matter of extending the | date for the sugar tariff to become | effective.
 Statements were issued by Senator 1 simmons chairman of the finance | committee who opposed the amend | ment and Kern chairman of the eau | GUS who supported it.
 Senator Simmons said: The caucus | declined the so called Hitchcock l amendment to the tdTl1I measure To l deal with IS a trust as it is evident. It is felt that the trust question will be | dealt with as a separate question as | soon as it can be reached although | after such a thorough and ma ture 1 consideration as the great importance l Of the subject required. More over | such consideration will not be now | given by the finance committee eau GUS and congress without unduly de- | laying the final action of the tariff 1 bill and disappointing the public who | desire for it's party sentiment The | vote on Hitchcock amendment, Kern i said was of no significance as indi eating any sympathy with the tobacco | trust or any other mOnOply by any | conference. On the contrary unani | nous sentiment is in favor of drastic l legislation on that subject.
 Nearly all who have opposed the 1 based their action on the theory that the tariff bill should not be loaded down with general legis lation especially with legislation so direct, against one trust and affecting none of the others All are agreed l that every Democratic platform pledge on the subject of trusts and l should be faithfully carried | out by legislation carefully drawn for that purpose.
 Senator Simmon said the completed | bill will be reported to the senate next Monday or Tuesday together 1 with the committee report of the eau | GUS and q complete consideration of | measure on Friday or Saturday.