South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-08
Forty-Seven of Them Stand up
One by One During the Cau-
Gus and Announce Their In
tention to Vote Aye.
ARE NOT BOUND BY
The CAUCUS ACTION
Resolution That Would Bind
Members to the Bill Without
Amendment is Not Offered
at Meeting.

WASHINGTON. July s.-Forty-
seven democratic senator's stood up
in the party caucus one by one late
Monday and declared their intention
. TO vote for the Underwood-S Simmons
3tariff revision bill as finally approved
by the caucus a few minutes pre-
viously. Two senators. Ransdell and
Thornton of Louisiana, stated that
they would not make such promise
because of the proposal to place su-
gar on the free list in 1915. Senators
Hitchcock of Nebraska and Culberson
of Texas were absent but both are
known TO be in favor of the bill. This
gives the democrats 40 votes for the
bill. or a slender majority of one.
with the vote OF the vice president
20 fall back upon in an emergency.
An absolute binding resolution was
not adopted, the poll by individuals
being substituted, and that poll was
put only on the ground of personal
promise and was not made binding.
a resolution was adopted, however,
declaring the Underwood Simmons
bill a party measure and urging its
undivided support without amend
ment unless such should be submitted
by the committee. Sen. Newlands of
Nevada cast the only vote against
this resolution, but Senators Shafroth
of Colorado, Ransdell and Thornton
did not vote.
The resolution was as follows:
Resolved, That the tariff bill
agreed TO by this conference in its
amended form. is declared TO be a
party measure and we urge its un-
divided support as a duty by demo-
cratic senators without amendment.
HI l..
ence or the finance committee may
after reference or otherwise propose
amendments TO the bill"
Express Satisfaction.
Sen. Kern, chairman of the caucus,
Chairman Simmons Of the finance
committee who have fought hard for
the measure. and other administra-
tion leaders expressed entire satisfac-
ton over the outcome of the measure
and declared their confidence that
enough votes were personally pledged
10 assure the passage of the measure
with free wool and free sugar in
cluded.
1t became apparent at once when
the conference convened that a res
oiutiOn which would bind members
absolutely to the bill without amend
ment was distasteful to many sena-
tors. The resolution therefore was
modified and presented in the form
of a party declaration. Before this
was put to a vote the motion was
made that the senators be asked flat
y their views on the subject. After
this the roll was called.
ON this roll call the Louisiana sen
Rtors stated thai IL was not their in
tentiOn 10 support the bill without
amendment Sen Newlands said he
had not definitely made up his mind
as 30 certain amendments he might
urge, but in the end il was his in
tentiOn 20 stand by the party meas
ure. Sen. Shafroth explained that he
did not want 10 be bound 70 support
the bill bat il was his present inten-
ton 10 vote for il.
All Vote for Measure.
All the members present AZ, voted
ave" on the roll call. These with
Senators Hitchcock and Culberson
absent but accounted for. constituted
the democratic mer bership of the
senate.
1--WE are satisfied with this show
ing." said Sen. simmons Monday
night The democrats are on rec
ord in support of the bill. Forty
seven OF Them answered aye when
their names were called on the motion
TO support the bill and two others
declared il their present intention 10
support Il and said that they did not
know OF anything that would cause
them TO vote against the party. No
mare could be expected. j am going
over the final perfected draft Of the
bill for corrections and shall report
it 10 the senate this week. Thursday
IF possible. / shall call a meeting OF
the full membership of the finance
committee. on Wednesday in all prob
ability. At any rate the bill will be
ready for general debate next week. .
I'VE have got the votes. a. with
out the vice president who can be
relied upon should an emergency
arise" was the statement OF Sen.
Hoke Smith as he left the caucus.
Sen. Kern made public the resolution
and a statement regarding the roll
call.
Sen. Newlands. in a statement ex-
planning his position, gave evidence
OF his intention 10 stand by the party.
Has Certain Defects.
II voted against making the bill a
party measure" Sen. Newlands said,
because whilst II is superior 10 the
existing tariff. il has certain defects
which should be remedied. II discrim-
mates against far western products.
The reductions should be apportiOned
over a period OF three years instead
Of taking effect Immediately. Further
reductions on sliding scale should
be provided for. particularly on food
products and clothing. There should
be a tariff board with power 10 as
certain facts. make recommendations
20 congress and make further reduc-
tI5ns under rydle established by con-
gress.
whilst our duties on sugar and
wool should be materially reduced.
we should not take the risk by pre-
action ~ raadfuefsrr- s,,4