The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-30
CURRENCY BILL
DELAY REJECTED
Republican Senators Sugges-
tion to Adjourn After the
Tariff Not Approved.
LITTLE PROGRESS MADE



terday submitted a proposal to the Demo-
cratic side to agree by unanimous con-
sent to expedite the passage OF the
Underwood-Simmons tariff bill. and then
adjourn without taking up currency leg
islation at this session.
This proposal was first suggested by
Senator Brandegee of Connecticut, and
later was seconded by Senator Lodge
and Senator Gallinger. Finding the
Democratic leaders in no mood to accept
the proffer. Senator Gallinger boldly an
nounced that IL Congress was to be
kept in continuous session on the de-
mand of the President after the tariff
bill was disposed of, that 1t might as
well take all the time deemed necessary
to debate the pending tariff bill
Tariff Talk Enough.
IF we are to remain here until the
snow flies" suggested Senator CALM
ger, I'VE may as well devote our, time
to talking about the tariff as to enter
upon a discussion Of the currency ques-
ton"
Senator Lodge warned the Democratic
leaders that they could not expedite the
tariff bill SO long es the President held
over Congress the threat OF requiring
them to stay here and consider a cur
rency bill after the tariff had been dis
posed of. He invited the Democratic
leaders to consider the matter carefully
and submit a proposal for an agreement
on a date for a vote on the tariff bill.
to be followed by an adjournment or
recess for month or so. to enable
Senators and Representatives to get
rest from their arduous work.
Senator Simmons replied that he was
giving no consideration to the question Of
a currency bill. and would devote him
self singly to the task Of putting through
the tariff bill at the earliest possible date.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof" remarked Senator Pomerene,
when it was proposed to enter into an
agreement to postpone the consideration
of the currency bill until later in the sea-
son.
The regular Republicans were evidently
speaking for themselves when they held
out the implied threat that unless the
Democrats agreed to adjourn Congress
after passing the tariff bill. there would
be no agreement for an early vote on the
bill. Senator Borah rose as soon as Sena-
tor Lodge had concluded, and declared
that the suggestions that had just come
from the Republican side did not repre-
sent the views of himself and a number
of other Republicans. 1t was learned
later that Senator Borah spoke for the
eleven Progressive Republicans who held
a separate conference yesterday and de-
cided to carry on their opposition to the
Underwood Simmons tariff bill along dis
tinctive lines.
Progress Is Slow.
Very little progress was made with the
tariff bill There was one set speech
Senator Sterling of South Dakota, Pro
gressive Republican, made an attack on |
the bill. At the conclusion of his speech |
the Senate took up the paragraphs in
the bill. The first struggle was over
fourspar. a product of Kentucky and ILL.,
nois that is used in the steel industry for
smelling ores. The Democrats proposed
to cut this duty in half. or from 50 a
ton to sL50 a ton. The Senate had made
no change from the House bill. The
committee was sustained, and the Senate
then passed to the consideration Of the
duty on mica
The production of mica in the United
States is confined almost exclusively to
Senator Simmons State North Caro-
lima, twenty-eight of the forty mines
producing mica being located in that
State. The Senate Committee changed
the House paragraph, substituting a
specific for an ad valorem duty, and
increasing the rate somewhat above
those in the House bill. but keeping
them somewhat below the rates in ex-
listing law.
Senator Smoot chided the chairman
of the committee, while the Republic
cans sat by and laughed. and. later.
Senator Bristow raised something Of a
furore by charging that the Democratic
members of the Finance Committee
had been looking after the industries
of their respective States. and had
drawn a bill that was a rank discrimi-
nation against certain States of the
Union
The mica paragraph was not finally
disposed Of The net result of the
days work on the tariff bill was that
but one paragraph in the bill, II, re-
lating to pumice stone. was finally dis
posed of.