The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-04-07
PARTY LEADERS FEAR
TARIFF BILLS FATE
President Will BE Asked TO
Segreoate Free Wool
and Sugar.
MR.. UNDERWOOD OPPOSES
senate Finance Committee Con-
fcrS Three Hours Over
the situation.
iR. UNDERWOOD OPPOSES

WAsnlNuroN. April The Demo
cratic members Of the Senate Finance
Committee were in conference for three
hours this afternoon considering the at .
uatlon that has arisen between the
Presidcn, and the members of the uppc,
house who are opposed to his action
on the sugar schedule.
Chairman Underwood Of the House
Ways and Means Committee was pres
ent in the early part of the conference.
AT its conclusion II was announced that
the members of the Finance Committee
would confer with the President To-
morrow morning
The most important question ,onsil-
cred vas the feasibility Of segregating
the sugar schedule and possibly tn,
wool bill from the regular tariff bill.
Members Of the Senate generally are
IN favor OF this segregation but Chair
man Underwood and President Wilson
have decided TO submit one bill to Con
grcss containing tne entire revision
programme.
Senators who are supporting the Ad-
minstration fear the entire revision
programme may be jeopardized through
the fight against free sugar and free
wool Members OF the Senate commit
tee have tried to prevail on Mr.. Tn
derwood 10 separate these troublesome
propositions from the rest Of the bill
but Mr.. Underwood has declined 10
support such a plan.
The Senators accordingly Will make
n final appeal To President Wilson to-
morrow morning To allow at least the
sugar schedule To go into separate
| bill. This will have to be done in the
| !Ious" as the Senate is foreclosed from
tah.uG such action.
The democratic leaders in the Sen
ate do not conceal their anxiety over
the fate of the tariff legislation II II
goes to the Senate as a single measure
| because Of the possibilities Of com
b!nation OF interests that may supply
| the necessary votes to defeat il.
Up to the present tim" AZ least five
| Democratic Senators are standing out
| against a bill carrying free wool and
| free sugar These are the two from
! Louisiana and three Western men, be
| liev.d TO be Walsh " Montana. Ashurst
| OF Arizona and Newlands of Nevada
| with Shafroth Of Colorado Very much
| in doubt
The leaders learned to-day that tncN
probab bly, would not we ablr 70 count
| on the vote of Senator PoindcXtcr eV,
Cept on the single item of free sugar
! If he il put 10 the necessity Of voj.nl
| for the Democratic tariff biil as a Who'll,
| in order 10 get free sugar he VIII prob
ably balk. according TO the latest in
! formation.
With the Democrats reduced TO IN,
extremity Of passing the bill VIII
Democratic votes alone their maximum
strength would be only a majority o
six. provided every Democratic Senator
voted for the bill.
II one Democratic Senator in add.
ton TO the two from Louisiana should
stand out against the measure the vote
would probably be a tie and Vice Presi.
dent Marshall would cast the deciding
| vote.
President Wilson can count on the
support Of the entire Democratic mem.
bersh!p OF the Finance Committee fol
the important schedules of the bill AZ
it is prepared. II tho Finance Com
m,tt"e had framed the bill II would have
been drafted differently. The same Il
true probably II the House Ways ant
| Means Committee had framed IT,
IL IL certainly true a. to Chairman r
Underwood who did not favor either
ultimate free sugar as proposed by the
President or free wool But the Demo
cratic members Ike Chairman Under
wood have decided to accept the Presi,
dents judgment and the bill will bt
reported promptly from the Finance
Committee substantially in the form Il
has been approved by the President. TIL.
bill will be introduced shortly after moor
tomorrow
Apparently the sugar Sena tor,
among the Democrats have decided T.
insist on their privilege Of amending tn,
bill, and will seek TO restore the suga
duty and possibly other duties whei
tho bill reaches the Senate. The Ana
adjustment will then fall to tho Con
ference Committee of the two Houses.
Chairman Simmons expects to recciv
the tariff bill from the House not late
than May l. He believes the Senat
will dispose OF the bill before July |, ant
that II will 20 to the President no
later than July IL.
Chairman Underwood estimated to
day that general debate in tho Iious
would last ten days or two weeks AM
the rest of the time would be CONSUMED
in debate under the hve minute rule,
Mr.. Underwood will present tho tarii
bill in the House tomorrow. On Tues
day morning at II o'clock the Hous
Democrats will meet In caucus to ratif
. the bill. As the House will meet O
noon. only an hour viii be allowed 70
discussion on the measure. Now tina
the tariff programme has been approve
by the President, the leaders say
will be adopted by the caucus withou
protest.
Debate on tho bill will he begu
Wednesday or Thursday. The Hous
/ will be kept in session every day unit
the measure has been passed.