Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-25
Members of House Are Won
dering Just What Is Be- /
ing Done. =
UNDERWOOD CONFERS
WITH THE PRESIDENT
Says He and Wilson Are in Accord,
But Sheds No Light on Re-
vision Measure.

win the rest or the House OF Repre-
sentatives wondering what was going on.
the democrats of the ways and means
committee met today for the first time in
a week and resumed the discussion OF
the coming tariff bill Not a sound ema-
mated from the committee room. not a
rumor came from any single member.
and among the various bits OF fiotsam
and jetsam gossip about the Capitol to-
day the only thing every one agreed upon
was that Representative Underwood told
the democrats just what went on be-
tween the President and himself when
they talked tariff for three hours at the
White House last night. Almost any one
could have guessed that much, however.
Some Of the House members were much
interested in the published statement that
Mr.. Underwood had said that the bill az
1t now stands is not the bill that he
would have written.
Free Lists Predicted.
That means there are some important
items on the free list said a southern
democrat today: 1T means free sugar
and a whole lot of other free things.
Underwood is a conservative tarin-for-
revenue revisionist and IL he had his way
there would be tariff on everything.
The rates would be low and in some in
stances negligible. but l believe there
would be duty on everything.
The old-time fight between the fruit
growers of California and the Pacific
coast and the importers Of New York
over the commonplace subject of lemons
was heard from in the gossip at the Capt.
toll again today. With free sugar and free
lemons, lemonade will be cheaper, but
the Louisiana sugar men and the Cali
fornia citrus fruit people will have for
ai0 rl<aft Sinn
hand. the importers of New York want
to get these things and a whole lot more
free Of duty so they can do an unprece-
denied business In foreign goods at a low
rate.
Wool Growers Worried.
Texas wool growers and goat herders
are considerably worried over the pros
pect of lower rates on imported wool and
1t ia easy to hear about 1t through the
Capitol corridors. For that matter, one
can hear rumors of any sort but none
Of them comes direct from the fountain
source of authenticity.
Mr.. Underwood's friends believe he will
achieve his master stroke Of management
and produce a bill which will be backed
by the administration, voted for by the
House with comparatively no real oppo-
sition and which will go through the Sem
ate without a great amount of substitu-
ton.
President Wilson is undecided whether
the tariff should be revised by a single
bill or schedule by schedule.
He told callers today he had had q
satisfactory talk last night. with Repre-
sentative Underwood. democratic leader.
but had left the question open.
Caucus Will Decide.
While Mr.. Underwood favors the single
bill idea. he has said that the demo-
cratic caucus should decide the issue, ard
in that view the President has concurred
While the income tax feature was dis
cussed. the President declared no con-
clusion has been reached as to whether
the tax should be graduated or be set
at a fiat rate.
The conference between President
Wilson and Mr.. Underwood lasted
until midnight 1t marked the serious
beginning Of what the President con-
siders Is the foremost task Of his adj
ministration. namely, the tariff revis-
ion. He and Mr.. Underwood were
closeted with the question for more
than three hours
1.-The President and 1 are in accord"
said the democratic House leader when
ne LEFT th the White si, folx dis
Mr.. Underwood was asked whether
the President favored a schedule by
schedule arrangement or single
tariff bill.
No Material Differences.
"An / can say" he replied with q
smile, sis that there are no material diff
ferences between U.s."
Mr.. Underwood said he had taken up
"the general scope Of legislation" in
GLIDING income tax and revenue meas
ures. but was not ready to make any an
Mr.. Underwood said the President had
not yet begun writing his message. 1t
is believed. however, that having learned
in detail the purposes Of party leaders on
tariff revision the President will begin
work at once on the document