The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-24
Predicts Great Relief For
Nation in Passage of the
Pending Bill
GARDNER LEADS
ATTACK ON BILL
Declares the Measure Is Entirely In
adequate for Needs of Country.
Admits Rightful Intentions.
Lively Debates
THE DAY IN CONGRESS.
e.ts,,~ A rtsT41


THE DAY IN CONGRESS.
SENATE
Not in session; meets Thursday.
Foreign relations committee gave
general approval to Secretary
Bryans plans for international
peace.
Met at noon.
General debate ON tariff bill
was opened by Democratic Leader
Underwood.
Adjourned at $40 p. m. until
II a. m. tomorrow.
Washington. April 2s.--Beginning
the debate in the House today on the
democratic tariff revision bill, Repre-
sentative Oscar w. Underwood OF Ala
hama, the majority leader. predicted
great relief for the nation through the
passage of the pending bill Represen-
tative Augustus P. Gardner of Massa-
chusetts voiced republican sSepticisni
for the country's future under such
tariff system as that proposed, ana
Representative Kelly of pennsylvania
expressed the opp POSITION OF the new
progressive party to all tariff bills
framed under the present system.
Mr.. Underwood in outlining the bill
severely criticised the protective tarifl
theory based on the cost OF production
differences at home and abroad, ahu
praised the competitive tariff theory,
declaring 1t would strengthen Ameii-
can industry and send American pro-
ducts into the worlds markets. He de-
uounced the raising of taxes by the
protective tariff as unjust, because, ne
said, It taxed equally the working men
and the multimillionaire. He pointed
out that the rates in the pending bill
were SUBSTANTIAL reductions from the
rates in the existing law and declared
that the lower rates would result in
reduction in the cost of living to the
consuming public. MI. Underwood did
not discuss the income tax feature OF
the bill, leaving that to Representative
Hull of Tennessee, who Will speak
later.
Repudiate Payne Bill
Representative Gardner admitted
that the republican party had been dis
lodged from power because 1t had been
too slow TO recognize growing evils
and permitted far too powerful OIL
r
instead of the peoples way.
He cautioned the democrats to live
UP to their promises to the people de-
claring he believed that IT they dId
not the people would turn TO the new
progressive party.
Suppose that the democrats fail TO
carry out their radical programme?
said Mr. Gardner "Will the country
turn to our party? / doubt it. The peo-
ple wish to try some of these new ideas
and are willing to risk the conse-
uuences of their proving disastrous
The republicans have not given. them
what they wish.
Mr. Gardner declared actual condi-
tions greatly hampered the democratic
tariff for revenue without harming le-
gltimate industry.
Clumsy as ii It," he seid, misleading
to the farmer as IL is, inconsistent ana
unjust as are many of Its provisions
this bill nevertheless is an attempt 10
carry out the promises which you dem
ocrats made to the people. Therein lies
the difficulty-your promises conflict
with each other. You cannot by one
and the same tariff keep up the prices
which the farmer receives and yet re-
duce the price which his customer
pays. You cannot fairly impose free
trade on the fisherman and the shoe
maker and the wool grower while you
force them to buy supplies protected
by duty.
Perplexing Paradox
"The market basket must not be
taxed, and yet the farmer must be pro-
tected That is the perplexing paradox
which must be elucidated When cooks
learn to make omelettes without break
ing eggs. when magnet is Invented
with both poles positive. then 1t may
be possible to provide for free food
stuffs and at the same time for pro-
tected farm products"
A 10 per cent duty on cattle, and by
products of cattle on the free list;
wheat dutiable at 10 per cent. with
bread and biscuits free. as proposed In
the BILL Mr.. Gardner argued, would not
protect the farmer.
Speaking again of the republicans.
the nation having convicted and pun
ishea them,' Mr.. Gardner asserted that
II, in the future they would follow the
wise policy Of ''suppressing in season
the abuses which human nature
breeds" and refuse to tolerate unrea-
sonable delay in the destruction OF
evils, 1--WE may be certain that our
party will be preserved as heritage
for generations yet to come
Representative Mondell of Wyoming