The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-10
mann BLOCKS TARIFF BILL.
VOTE POSTPONED ON UNDER.
WOOD BY REPRESENTA-
TIVE MANN.
FIRST Democratic Tariff Bill i'm Twenty
Years Nears Its PasSage-Chcerinp
Feature of Last Hours OF Fight
speeches for and Against Bill.

washington, May AFTER all of
the fireworks preparatory to passage
Of the Underwood bill in the house
had been set off, Republican parlia-
mentary manoeuvre blocked passage
by the Democratic majority and the
house was forced to adjourn until to-
morrow with the bill still pending
When the valedictory speeches on
the bill had been delivered and crowd
ed floor and gallery were prepared for
the final action, Republican Leader
Mann replied to Majority Leader I'm
derwood's opposition to roll call on
the Republican amendment proposing
a tariff commission by declaring he
would demand the reading of the EN-
rolled bill" 1t was impossible for the
enrolling clerk to complete the enroll
ment of the bill before tomorrow af-
ternoon and amid the dissatisfied NUT
terings Of the members who had wait
tatiOn Of final vote, Representative
Underwood moved that the house ad-
jOurn until 2 o'clock tomorrow after
noon when the vote on the bill will be
taken.
In the closing hours of the session
the ways and means committee
amended the income tax section Of
the bill so as to exempt from it's pro-
visions the citizens Of Puerto Rico
and the Philippines.
Amid clamor that at times drowned
voices of champions and opponents of
the Underwood tariff revision bill, the
first Democratic tariff measure in 20
years was rushed towards passage in
the house tonight.
Party leaders primed for the final
| political thrust of the tariff debate
hurled their defies across the chamber
: with alternating currents of applause
reverberating through the chamber,
the packed galleries frequently joining
in the demonstration.
When the echoes Of approving
cheers had died away after the defeat
Of the last Republican amendment.
! while the house was in the committee
Of the whole, Representative Garrett
of Tennessee, chairman Of the COM
mittee, turned the gavel over to Speak
er Clark. Majority Leader Underwood
, then placed the bill before the house
and moved its passage. Debate on
this motion was being hastened as
. rapidly as possible with prospect of a
, roll call about midnight.
Prior to the vote on the last amend
ment, Minority Leader Mann, Major
ity Leader Underwood and Speaker
Clark were given rising ovations.
With an overwhelming Democratic
majority on hand to send the bill on
Its way to the senate, the session to-
night was marked by an exuberant
spirit Of triumph on the Democratic
side of the centre aisle. Every mem
: Der who could possibly attend was in
his place to hear the conclusion of the
debate on the bill and to cast his vote.
Although several Democrats had an
nounced their intention Of voting
against the bill, Majority Leader Tn
derwood and his lieutenants had plen-
ty OF votes on hand to insure its pas
sage and the defeat Of Republican
and Progressive efforts to amend.
AS the end of the two weeks of po-
litical spellbinding and weary efforts
to amend the bill that marked it's
progress through the house drew to a
close, the expectation of vote drew
great throngs to the galleries Of the
house chamber. Early in the evening
all OF the seats were filled and the
crowd had taken possession of the
gallery aisles. After the gallery doors
were closed the crowds continued to
in the corridors trying in vain for a
glimpse of the floor. The gowns and
millinery of fashionable women lent
color to the crowded galleries.
The last skirmish on the details of
the measure came on the administra-
ton clause. allowing a per cent dis
count on the duty on all goods
brought into the United States in
ed this provision vigorously, declaring
that it was political buncombe" and
that if it had any meaning, 1t meant
an advantage to foreign vessels and
foreign shipping combines. After an
hour of vigorous debate an attempt to
strike out the provision was defeated
by rolling chorus of Democratic