The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-26
Wilson Receives Many Peti-
tiOns Both in Favor of
and Against the Civil
Bill Measure
UNDERSTOOD WILSON
HAS NOT DECIDED
WHAT HE WILL DO
Matter Put Directly Up to Wilson.
Senate Finance subcommittee
Write Their Reyisions of I'm
derwOod Tariff Bill
This Week

Washington, May 25.-President Wilson
may have actually before him this week
for his approval or rejection the much
buffeted SLIT 100000 sundry civil appropria-
tion BILL which includes the provision ex-
empting labor unions and farmers organ
appropriated for the enforcement of the
Sherman antitrust laws
What the President will do with the
measure because of the exemption clause
which caused former President Taft to
veto it, is engaging country wide atten-
tion, and 1t is reported tonight that the
chief executive has not made up his mind
what to do with the bill.
Although the bill Is in conference, there
being disagreement over a Senate
amendment relating to funds for a ma
tional soldiers home, President Wilson
has had it under consideration for many
weeks.
During the week just passed the execu-
tive's office has been flooded with letters
and petitions regarding the measure, some
urging him in emphatic language to veto
1t because of the exemption clause and
others appealing to him to give it his ap-
proval.
Matter Up to President
While the President is celebrating the
House and Senate conferees have been
marking time, but 1t is probable they will
reach an agreement during the week, and
that their report viii be approved by
House and Senate. This will put the mat
ter directly up to the President. Party
leaders on both sides are awaiting the
Presidents action with interest without
making any predictions. Some time ago
1t was indicated that the President would
sign the bill and issue a statement regard
ing the exemption clause. Now. however,
he is said to be seriously studying both
sides of the controverted points before
determining the matter.
The tariff situation will reach ain inter-
esting reriod durns- easis.rwecis, when the
senate finance subcommittee get down
to the actual work of writing their re-
visions of the Underwood bill.
When the private hearings close Tues
day, the subcomittees headed by Sena-
tors Stone. Williams and Johnson will
!. lock themselves up, roll up their sleeves
material procured In the private hear
ings and through briefs filed with them
by protesting manufacturers. Although
Senator Simmons, chairman of the fl
nance committee had hoped that the
work of revising the schedules could be
concluded this week " there is little
prospect of it and the bill probably
will not be ready for the democratic
caucus until the week following.
The brief further sets forth in detail
that the amount of refunds at the port
of New York alone. due to litigation
over customs, aggregated for the years
1908 and 1918, TO April 30, inclusive. ~
$1,000
Overshadowing the legislative devel-
opments during the last week was the
beginning made by republican party
leaders in and out of Congress to bring
N about party reorganization, culmina ting
: in the meeting Saturday OF the re-
publican executive committee and the
organization plans of the democratic
national and congressional committees.
Following these conferences both re-
publican and democratic national COM
mittees will meet soon to organize and
work out details for the campaign next
year.
Discuss Proposed Joint Caucus
This week the committee of five sem
ators appointed by the Senate repub-
leaders relating to joint caucus to
talk over congressional plans, will be-
gin work and Senator Gallinger, the
chairman, is authority for the state
ment that a caucus will be held early
in June. The republican congressional
committee has deferred Its organization
meeting until the executive committee
of the national committee has met 50
as not to interfere with any harmon
ious angement of work between the
two organizations, the congressional
organization leaders are agreed that il
the national committee executive men,
bers did not Immediately establish
headquarters, the congressional cam
paign headquarters would be arranged
for at once publicity work planned and
other details attended to looking to the
convention for the election of repre-
sentatives in 1914. The congressional
committee probably will have offices
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