The Washington herald., 1913-08-05
TARIfFPROGRESS
SLOW in SENATE
No Advancement Made IN
Consideration Of Sim
mons Measure.
NEWSPAPERS QUOTED
Debate Drifts Into q Discussion Of
Business Conditions Prevailing
Throughout Country.

The Senate yesterday struggled with
the tariff question for six hours, but did
not advance a single paragraph In the
bill. There was one set speech, nearly
two hours long, by Senator Myers. Demo-
crat, Of Montana. devoted to defending
free wool: another two hours were given
to the consideration of the first two para
graphs in the metal schedule, dealing with
iron ore, pig iron, and other raw products
for steel manufacture.
While these matters were before the
Senate, Senator Cummins Of Iowa SUBJ
mitted an amendment which he will offer
as a substitute for the entire metal sched-
ule in the Underwood-Simmons bill 1t
restores the duties. somewhat reduced. on
iron ore, pig iron, and ether raw mate
rails in the iron and steel industry that
is now made free under the pending bill.
and makes a reduction Of about 20 per
cent from existing duties OF the Payne
Aldrich law in manufactures of iron and
steel.
Free Ore Attacked.
Senator Oliver and Senator William Al
den Smith, both regular Republicans and
devoted protectionists, attacked the DEM
ocratic proposal of free iron ore. Sena-
tor Smith declared that free iron ore was
in the interest of the Pennsylvania Iron
Company, a subsidiary Of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company, and also would
be of special benefit to the Bethlehem
Steel Company. He pointed out that II
would permit the entrance into the United
States Of Cuban ores free Of duty. The
result, he declared, would be loss in
revenues of about s262,0o0 a year to the
government. and that the consumer would
derive no benefit from it ia the way Of
cheaper finished products.
Probably the most interesting part OF
the tariff session was the first two hours.
which was devoted to presenting evidence
in the way of private letters. kilograms,
newspaper clippings, &C.. tending to prove
or disprove the assertion made by some
Of the regular Republicans Of the Senate
that the pending tariff bill has disturbed
or is likely TO disturb the business of
the country.
Senator Stone Of Missouri made the
most remarkable contribution to the
literature on the subject when he read
from a New York newspaper of August
the special report on business condi-
tions throughout the country.
stone Makes Comment.
Then Senator Stone began reading the
story, and after he had read the intro
duction showing unusually prosperous
conditions throughout the country, he
said:
Il am going to ask to print this re-
view in the Congressional Record for
the edification, and I hope for the good
of my friends on the other side, so they
may not unduly delay the passage of
these great measures of revenue reform
and currency reform.
This review, carefully gathered by one
of the great newspapers of the country.
by its own correspondents, and printed
in a journal that is not friendly to the
existing Democratic administration or to
the Democratic party, but which has
sought, 1 have no doubt, to give fair
exposition of the industrial conditions
now prevailing throughout the United
States. wish to put in the Congressional
Record so that it may stand as rebuke
to the doleful and pessimistic prophecies
that are sent out from the other side
and are affecting our ears from day to
day."
Senator Gallinger agreed with Senator
Stone that tine matter was proper material
for the Record, but insisted that If 1t
proved anything it was that the existing
prosperity under the Payne-Aldrich law
should not be disturbed.
There was a flood of other material put
into the Record from both sides of the
Senate Chamber.