The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-08
They Pres e n t T n cir
ch-Discussed Meas
ure to Country.
HOUSE is SAFE, BUT
SENATE IN DOUBT
Wilson Has Not Yet Decided
Questions Of Procedure and
Strategy Upon Which He
Must Depend to Put Bill
Through Congress in
Shape He Desires.
lgy Associated Prcss. ]


Washington, April 7.--'rhe Demo
cratic party, in full possession of the
executive and Legislative branches of
the national government. to-day turned
the wheels Of legislation toward a re
vision of the tariff
Leaders OF the ;Aouse presented to
the country a tariff bill, voluminous
in detail. and radical III its proposed
reduction OF existing duties AS a
whole it was the product of debate
and study by the Democrats from the
time they came into the majority in
the House two years ago but it rep
resented particularly the conclusions
Of the House Ways and Means Commit
tee after several months of work. II
carried also the approval of the presi-
dent.
Qucations of Procedure.
Coincident with the Introduction Of
the measure in tho House during the
opening hours Of asscSsion called cspc-
cially to revise the tariff the Prcsi-
dent WAS turning over in his mind
questions Of procedure and strategy
upon which the success or failure OF
the party program may depend. While
the Democratic majority in the house
is sufficient to gain tariff revision by
single bill or by n series of bills en-
bracing separate schedules. the situa-
ton III the Senate admittedly is diff
ferent, as sectional interests. o. i!ady
have produced aliRrrs4mts which make
the quest i2!'h1 method all-important
Sc|"m OF the ten Democratic mem
hers of the Senate Finance Committee
early in the day. headed by Chairman
Simmons, told the President that an
attempt To put through single bill
would be hazardous. With all sched-
uies nodded In single bill, they
argued that the enemies Of separate
schedules. feeling a certain resDousi-
oility to the will Of their constituents
who might be adversely affected would
unite and the whole measure could be
defeated. The President said he did
not believe any of the Democratic SEN
ators would seek 10 shoulder the re-
sponsibility for defeating the program
oi inc party. He nevertheless heard in
detail the arguments advanced for a
schedule e-byschedulc revision and de-
cided 20 consult again with Represent
alive Oscar Underwood. leader OF the
House, WHO favors the single bill pro-
cess.
Late in the day the President talked
the situation over with Mr.. Under
wood The latter declared as he left
the White House that the President
was still undecided and that no CON
clusions had been reached. The presi-
dents disposition is to await develop
ments.
Mr.. Underwood said the caucus of
House Democrats tomorrow would be
gin TO consider items and that the
question of reporting a single bill from
the Ways and Means Committee or seq
regaung those portions around which
opposition centres would not have to
be decided immediately
Will Canvass Situation.
The President, in the meantime will
.asyt L.
uation III the Senate. If il should be-
come apparent that Il single bill can
not pass. IL is not unlikely he will
consent TO segregation of the sugar
schedule. providing for a duty of l
cent with the free-in- three years pro-
vision. ( ON the rest of the bill This.
1t is believed. would insure passage
of the great bulk OF tariff reforms
by the Democrats in the Senate while
the sugar schedule would be pulled
through with the aid OF Progressive
Republican votes.
The Louisiana Senators are being
urged by their constituents TO oppose
ultimate free sugar and are said to
have the support of other Democra tic
members OF the Senate
Just what opposition to the bill
might be expected from those who are
against free wool was not apparent
to-day. Senator Ashurst who had
been reported as ready to vote against
the bill because il provided for free
WOOL denied on the floor OF the Senate
that he had any such intention
WI ME there has been little time for
tne senate TO study The measure def
hlte expressions of opinion arc expect-
ca bE the end OF thc week and in
inc meantime the caucus OF House
democrats is expected to present a
soha front IN favor OF the contents
OF the bill. II is the program at pres
ent or Representative Undcrw ood ana
ms colleagues of the Ways and Meims
committee majority to recommend to
the caucus the adoption of the bill i'm
omnibus form. but Mr.. Underwood said
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