The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-03
HITCHCOCK BOLTS
SENATE CAUCUS
Nebraska Senator Peeved BY
Rejection Of Tobacco
Amendment.
ACTION IS EXPLAINED
Democrats Prefer Separate Trust
Legislation at Next
. Session.

| The first break from the Democratic
Senator Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock of Ne
braska walked out with the announce
ment that he would not further partic-
ipate in caucus deliberations.
Senator Hitchcock's exit occurred just
after the caucus had rejected his amend
ment for a graduated tax on tobacco pro-
duction by a vote of % to IS. The amend
ment offered by Senator Hitchcock was
the main subject of debate most Of yes
terday
| Senator Hitchcock originally offered his
amendment to the subcommittee OF
finance. which had in charge the internal
revenue features of the bill. II embodies
the ideas suggested by Attorney General
McReynolds, and which at one time is
SUPPOSED to represent the views of Presi-
dent Wilson. After the subcommittee re-
jected the amendment. Senator Hitch
cock appealed to the caucus, and his
leaving the caucus was notice to his
Democratic colleagues that he reserved
the right TO offer the amendment on the
floor of the Senate and would not be
bound by caucus action.
Senators Ask Reconsideration.
As Senator Hitchcock left the caucus
he was surrounded by his colleagues.
who urged him to remain, but he de-
clined to do so. There was sharp
passage over the amendment between
Chairman Simmons and Mr.. Hitchcock.
Those voting for the Hitchcock amend
ment were as follows:
Yeas-Ashurst. Bacon. Clarke, Fletcher,
Hitchcock, Hollis, Kern, Lea, MARITIME,
Myers, Newlands, O'Gorman, Pomerene,
and Vardaman.
Nayes-Bryan, Chamberlain. Chiffon.
Gore. Hughes. James. Johnson, John
ston, Lane. Lewis. Martin, Owen. Pit
| man, Ransdell, Shively, Simmons. Smith
of Georgia, Smith of South Carolina,
Stone, Thomas, Thornton Tillman. and
Williams.
The walk-out by Senator Hitchcock 10
| not likely to imperil the bill. His vote
with the votes of the two Louisiana
Senators would be sufficient to make the
| vote on the bill a tie. But 1t is under
stood that Senator Hitchcock's disagree
ment from his colleagues extends only
to the tobacco amendment.
MY action must not be construed as
kick over the party traces" said the
Senator 81 want TO be free to offer
tobacco amendment and lead a fight
| for it on the floor of the Senate. Inas-
much as II is the general understanding
| among Democratic Senators that the
caucus will adopt a binding resolution
| which will tie the hands of Senators and
prevent their introducing amendments
| in the Senate. l feel that II was my
| duty to retire.
Il will make the fight for this tobacco
amendment to the finish. In order to do
! that had to free myself from any pos
| sible binding caucus resolution. and i
have. therefore. withdrawn. There is
| nothing sensational about my action. I
do not intend to bolt the party or op-
pose the tariff bill, but will make an
earnest effort to get my amendment into
| the law
Senator Simmons described the struggle
in the caucus over the Hitchcock amend
ment as battle royal He admitted
| that at times the discussion had been
| strong and the remarks were heated.
Statement of Chairman.
Last night the chairman of the FL
nance Committee, Mr.. Simmons, issued
| the following statement:
The caucus declined to adopt the So
called Hitchcock amendment to the tariff
| bill. principally because it did not con-
| slider it wise to attempt in a tariff meas
ure to deal with the trust evil. II was
felt that the trust question should be
dealt with as a separate one as soon as
| il could be reached. and only after such
| thorough and mature consideration as
| the great Importance of the subject re-
! quired. Moreover. such consideration
could not now be given to II by the
Finance Committee the caucus, and the
| Congress without unduly delaying final
| action upon the tariff bill and disaap-
pointing the public desire for its early
settlement"
As an indication of the disturbance
caused by Senator Hitchcock's retire.
| ment from the caucus, Senator Kern,
majority leader, felt it necessary 20 make