The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-07-16
SENATORS Hold PARTY CAUCUS
and PLEDGE SUPPORT
TO TARIFF reform BILL
The Two Senators From Louisiana
Refuse to Pledge Their Support Be-
cause of Free Sugar Provision, But
Enough Are Left to Insure the Pas
sage VI the Measure.

Forty-seven Democratic senators
stood up in the party caucus one by
one late Monday and declared their
intention to vote for The Underwood
Simmons tariff revision bill as finally
approved by the caucus a few min
utes previously. Two senators-Rans-
dell and Thornton Of Louisiana
stated that they would not make such
promises because of the proposal to
place sugar on the free list in 1916.
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 forty
nine votes for the bill, or slender
majority of one, with the vote of the
vice-president to fall back on 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.
4 resolution was adopted, however,
declaring the Observation-Disclosures
bill a party measure and urging its
undivided support without amend
ment unless such should be submit
ted by the committee. Senator New
lands of Nevada cast the only vote
against this resolution bat Senators
Shafroth of Colorado, Ransdell and
Thornton did not vote.
The resolution was s-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 undi-
vided support as a duty by Demo
cratic senators without amendment.
Provided, however, that the confer
ence or the finance committee may,
after reference or otherwise, propose
amendments to the pill"
Senator Kern, chairman OF the
caucus, Chairman Simmons, Of the
finance committee, who have fought
hard for the measure, and other ad-
ministration leaders, expressed entire
satisfaction over the outcome and de-
clared their confidence that enough
votes were personally pledged to as
sure the passage of the measure, with
free wool and free sugar included.
It became at once apparent when
the caucus convened, that a resolu-
ton which would bind members alb
solutely to the bill without amend
ment was distasteful to many sena-
tors. The resolution, therefore, was
modified and presented in the form OF
party declaration. Before this was
put to a vote, the motion was made
that senators be asked fatty as to
their intention regarding the measure
and this was agreed to.
The roll was then called and the
Louisiana senators stated that 1t was
not their intention to support the bill
without amendment.
Senator Newlands said that he had
not definitely made-up his mind as to
certain amendments he might urge,
but in the end it was his intention to
stand by the party measure.
Senator Shafroth explained that he
did not want to be bound to support
the bill but that it was his present in
tention to vote for it. All the others
present "ayes" on
the roll call. These senators Hitch
cock and Culberson absent but ac-
counted for, constitute the Democrat
ic membership of the senate, fifty
one.