The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-07
Bill May Have Trouble
When It Gets to
Senate.
HOUSE LEADERS
ARE CONFIDENT
Free Sugar and Free Wool Pro
vision Likely to Arouse Siren
uous Observation-Disclosures
Expects Overwhelming Vote
When Democratic Repre-
sentatives Caucus.

Washington. April 6-The Demo
cratic tariff bill, approved by Tresl-
dent Wilson and the Democrats GO tho
House Ways and Means Committee,
will be introduced In the House when
II conyenes at noon tomorrow by
Chairman Underwood. House Demo
Gratis VIII caucus on the bill Tuesday.
and Chairman Underwood was conf
dent tonight that 1t would be Endorsed
by an Overwhelming vote.
Tho Senate Democrats had no plan
tonight to hold caucus on the bill,
but such meeting may he called later.
The Senate Finance Committee Dem
ocrate held n three-hours' consultation
to-day. but apparently mado little
progress toward giving their indorse-
! mont to the bill as it now stands 1t
was evident that Senator's on the
Finance Committee who have sounded
out members of the party on the bill
mad not discovered satisfactory mar
gin to insure its passage. One-cent
sugar with the free in -three-years pro
Viso, and free wool are the stumbling
| blocks. and the meeting to-day will
be followed by further investigation
to feel out the actual strength of the
opposition.
Unable To Agree.
Inc Senator's. in conference to-day.
! n
the President and Mr.. Underwood for
one Dill They prefer separate bills
ana are not convinced that any ad-
| vantage is to be gained by the other
plan. This question and that of the
| supposed antifree wool and sugar
com blnation will be discussed with
Mr. Wilson tomorrow at a conference
at the White House.
me Senators hope to convince the
PRESIDENT of the strategic value of
schedule -by-schedule revision in keen
ing opposition Senators in line.
ehairnlan Underwood said he ex-
l,ected Kos serious pp6sfff6 f6ii & III, ff,s
House. He added that afterSti,e cs,,,c,s :
approved the bill the House would be
given n week or ten days for general
debate upon 1t. beginning "wednesday.
Al the conclusion OF general debats
the bill Will be taken up pararranh
oy paragraph and amendments ofrcred
VIII De debated under the f1ve-minute
rule Mr.. Underwood was OF the
opinion that the bill should pass the
House about May /. He would not
express a decided opinion as to when
the Senate might finish the bill. but
thought eight weeks might suffice.
The meeting of the Democrats Of the
| Senate Finance Committee did not re-
suit in discussion of particular sched-
ules, but of general policy 1t was
plain. however. that the threatened
trouble over the proposition of free
sugar and free wool WAS n source of
embarrassment. Leaders who wish to
see the bill as 1t stands receive the
committees Endorsement and that of
the caucus were not certain how much
strength the Senator's opposed to these
two schedules might be able to mus
ter There was less Of the confidence
that characterized former meetings.
and efforts to obtain a more accurate
showing of how the forces are to line
up Will be continued.
Senator's Dissatisfied.
| There has been some dissatisfaction
over the fact that Senators have had
but little to do with framing a bill
designed as party measure To-day
the Democrats OF the Finance Commit
tee got their first explanation of IL
from Chairman Underwood, who was
in conference with them for an hour
and half Some of them are said to
feel Some hesitancy about taking i'm
mediate action approving the bill
without fuller investigation.
! II was suggested that although the
! measure is to be known as a party
and administration bill, Its passage by
caucus agreement and by use of pres
sure may lead to trouble within tho
party If the States which are now pro-
testing against certain schedules should
| be joined by others.
Determination In Final
| President Wilson stands firmly for
rate OF cent a pound on sugar and
the removal of all duty after three
years This is his final determination.
! and he is confident that a single tariff
measure with such a provision cen
pass
This information came from White
| House officials late tonight IL dis
| poses of the various alternatives
which hitherto have been under con-
sideration. The President had been
reported as saying that unless the
sugar men from Louisiana accepted
the 1-cent proposal. lie would insist
on free sugar at once. They suggest
| ed TO him that they would accept the
| 1-cent rate provided at the end of
three years he use his discretion as
to whether the duty should be re-
moved. To all proposals the President
| is prepared to make one answer-that
ne believes 1-cent rate should be
| imposed so that the sugar growers can
| ADJUST their business, and after three
years sugar should be on the free list.
Ihe President, 1t was learned. believes
the sugar business In Louisiana would
De seriously affected by immediate FREQ
sugar. but is satisfied a satisfactory.
adjustment is possible 80 that free
sugar can be obtained within his own
administration.
/ NllRSERY I'M nHIIPcu