The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-20
Senators Ransdell and
Thornton Vote With
Republicans.
AMENDMENT BY
BRISTOW is LOST
Democrats Declare That They
Have Clear Majority of One
Vote-Sugar Vote Indicates
Fate of Fight Over Free
Wool-Many Senator'S
Are Paired.

washington, August 1S.-Presldent
Wilson'S program for free sugar in
1916 carried the day in the Senate to-
day, when Democrats rallied to the
support Of the tariff bill and defeated
all amendments to the sugar schedule.
With all but Senators Ransdell and
Thornton. of Louisiana. standing firm
ly for the administration measure, the
Democrats defeated the Bristow
amendment for a compromise duty:
the Norris amendment against free
sugar and the Gallinger amendment
against free maple sugar.
An amendment to abolish imm ediate-
ly Dutch standard color test for sugar
was adopted during the fight. 1t was
proposed by Senator Bristow, Repub-
lican. and accepted by Senator'S Sim
mons and Williams, Democratic man
ayers of the bill.
The decision on the sugar schedule
came at the end OF a debate devoid
OF much of the bitterness that had been
expected in connection with this fight
Senator Bristow's amendment would
have established a gradual reduction
in duty from the present tariff of $1.90
per hundred pounds until in
six years the tariff would have been
S1.27 1-2. Under the Cuban treaty this
would have established 81 cents tariff
on Cuban sugar which constitutes the
bulk of the imports into the United
States.
a hard fight was made for the Bris-
tow amendment; but when finally
forced to vote it was defeated SO to
"a.
subsequent motion by Senator
Gallinger to strike out the provision
10 make maple sugar and glucose free
Of duty in 1916 was beaten 81 to 50.
The proposal to put all cane and raw
sugar on the free list in 1916, behind
which President Wilson had mustered
the Democratic majority after a long
persistent effort, came squarely before
the Senate on motion by Senator
feature of the bill This was defeated
by viva voce vote. Senator Norris not
demanding q roll call.
Majority of One.
This proposal will come up again
when the bill has passed it's present
stage of consideration in committee
of the WHOLE. and advanced to the
next reading in the Senate. When
made again, the motion undoubtedly
will call for a recorded vote. but DEM
ocratic leaders to-nigh. expressed con-
tidcnce that they would still have a
clear majority OF at least one vote.
Senator Works is ir California, and
is not paired with any Democratic SEN
ator. Nine Democrats were paired with
nine Republicans on to-days vote.
With Il further break in the Demo-
cratic ranks, the vote still would be
IS to 81 should all pairs be broken and
all Senators return. Should the Demo-
Gratis insist upon withdrawing exist
ing pairs, the advantage would be
largely in their favor, as Senator'S Du-
pont and Root. Republicans are in Eu-
rope; Senator BurleiGh is Ill. and SEN
ator Works has indicated he does not
expect 20 return tn Washington for the
tariff session.
Senator simmons gave notice that
he would offer further amendments to
the sugar schedule before the bill was
approved to make it clear that the eX-
listing sugar duty of S1.90 per hundred
Is TO continue in force until the new
rate of 81 per hundred becomes effec-
tive next March.
Action on the sugar schedule to day
was followed by a speeding up OF the
legislative machinery on remaining sec
tions. Democratic leaders expressed
confidence tonight that tariff revision
would be greatly FASTENED within the
next week. The fight over free wool is
on the sugar schedule was accepted
as an Indication of what will happen
when wool is reached
Before adjournment tonight the
Senate had disposed of the schedule de-
voted to rates on spirits, wines and
| liquors, with the exception OF that pro-
vision relating to the tax on fortified
wines, and the cotton schedule was
taken up and briefly debated. Senator
Lippitt attacking the proposed system
OF fixing ad vnlorem duties of thread
and yarn based on the trade number
of the product.