Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-12
DEMOCRATS DEFEAT
CHANGES IN SUGAR
By Overwhelming Majority
Caucus Votes Down
Amendments to Schedule.
LOUISIANA TAKES LEAD
TO PREVENT LESS DUTY
Anti-Free Wool Members of Majority
Party in House to Make
Strong Protest.

BY an overwhelming majority the
House democratic caucus today voted
down amendments to the sugar tariff
schedule proposed by Representative
Broussard of Louisiana and supported
by members from the sugar states to
eliminate the provision for free sugar
in three years. and provide an immedi-
ate 10 per cent reduction, to be fol-
lowed by gradual reduction for six
years. The vote against 1t was S6 to Is.
Representatives from Louisiana. led by
Representative BrOussard, and aided by
members from Michigan and other beet
sugar states. assailed the duties ap
proved by the ways and means commit
tee and President Wilson, as ruinousi to
the sugar industry in their states.
Chairman Underwood began the argu-
ment in defense of the schedule, detailing
the long careful study the committee had
given to the sugar question. Amend
ments proposed by Representative Brous-
sard were opposed by the fiat free sugar
champions led by Representative Hard
wick of Georgia, who offered an amend
ment that raw sugar be placed on the
duction.
Mr.. Hardwick's argument against
gradual reduction was that it was dis
elimination in favor Of segregated In
dustries in Louisiana and the beet sugar
states.
Broussard's Proposed Amendment.
Representative Broussard's first amend
ment proposed a cut on 81 per cent sugar
from Cuba of 20 cents per hundredweight
at the outset, y cents in 1915 and 81
cents in 1919. On 100 per cent sugar his
amendment would. make cut in the rate
of BIZ cents per hundredweight now, 80
cents in 1916 and 62 cents in 1919.
Another amendment proposed was to
extend the period of grace for free sugar
to four years. thus throwing it beyond
the next national campaign. when the
question could again be publicly dis
cussed.
The first sugar amendment proposed in
the caucus was one to determine the
time the schedule should go into effect
provided the rates proposed by the COM
mittee with free sugar in three years is
apprqrsa The Bill wotld make free au-
tive HardWick % propssed u that fsss
changed to May 1. 1916. in order that it
become operative before the canning sea-
son begins. The proposal was referred
to the ways and means committee. Chair
man Underwood expressing IA desire to
take the proposal under advisement, and
it is probable the change will be
agreed to.
The heated discussion began when
Representative Broussard offered his first
amendment. Mr.. Hardwick also sent his
immediate free sugar amendment to the
secretary, reserving the right to discuss
it later
Fight Against Free Raw Wool.
Anti-free wool democrats in the House
in conference prior tc the caucus deter
mined to fight free raw wool to the last
ditch and, if outvote1 in the caucus, TO
exempt themselves from the binding
caucus pledge and t. continue the fight
on the floor of the House.
1t was decided. when the wool schedule
is reported. to introduce an amendment
which would place a duty of 1j per cent
ad valorem on raw wool. This the anti
free wool members insist, was the origi-
nal judgment OF members OF the ways
and means committee, who yielded to
President Wilson's desire when they de-
cided to put wool on the free list.
Nearly fifty representatives from twen-
ty states attended the conference, which
was presided over by Representative Ash
brook of Ohio. Members were present
from Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ne
=.
1t was first proposed that a special COM
mittee be appointed to confer with the
President and the ways and means COM
mittee in an effort to bring about a COM
promise before the schedule is reached
in the caucus consideration. This was
voted down.
Shoe Machinery on Free List.
With little or no protest the democratic
caucus took shoe machinery out of the
protected list, with 23 per cent duty, and
placed it fairly and squarely in the free
list. The democrats took keen delight in
doing this. as it looked to them to be
slap at the sO-called "Shoe machinery
trust" Representative Borland Of Missouri
offered the resolution making the change
ocratic member from New York, had
made a vigorous speech against the
trust"
This was the first break from the reg
ularity of the schedules as proposed by
the ways and means committee. 1t was
not considered a serious detection, how
ever Representative Palmer of Penn
sylvania, in charge of the steel and steel
manufactures schedule, explained later
that as no one had come forward to
ask that shoe machinery be put on the
free list the committee did not want
to take the responsibility Of taking away
that much income without some grounds
for action.
Shoe manufacturers have protested
against the feature of the bill which
let in shoes free and at The same time
kept them from buying the shoe machines
of foreigners. They claimed they would
be in the grip OF a trust
CITIES NAV OWN TIE EATCpc