The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-12
SLOW PROGRESS ON
NEW TARIFF BILL IS
WORRYING MAJORITY
No Definite Agreement
Reached as to Method OF
Hurrying the Measure.
Free Market Urged

Washington, August 1l.-Democratic
leaders in the Senate are considerably per-
turbed over the failure to make progress
on the tariff schedules and for several
days Informal conferences have been held
with progressive republicans and regular
republican leaders In the hope that some
means to hasten consideration of the
measure might be found.
1t was stated tonight, however. that
nothing definite had been accomplished.
For the purpose of sounding republican
sentiment, democratic leaders have in
quired what progress could be made on
the tariff should it be agreed definitely
that the Senate would not take up the
currency bill at the present session.
Give No Assurance
Nc assurance, it was reported, were
given as to definite time for voting on the
tariff, but 1t was asserted by minority
leaders that such an assurance undoubt-
edly would lead to earlier action ON the
tariff.
Certain suggestions also have been made
as to possible amendments affecting bar
ley, wheat and other agricultural rates,
but minority members were not disposed
to bargain, because they could receive no
assurance of conference action on amend
ments of this character.
The informal negotiations gave rise to a
rumor that currency legislation would
! not be insisted upon at the special ses-
sion. but this was declared to be entirely
without foundation insofar as the views
of the President and majority of the
democratic senators were concerned.
Consideration Drags
| Meanwhile consideration of the bill drags
OF Today little progress was made, sew
erei paragraphs of the metal schedule be-
ing under discussion, chiefly lead and cast
| iron pipe. Cast iron pipe, which the Sem
ate finance committee transferred TO the
free list, striking out the House rate of
| 70 per cent, was discussed by senator
Clarke of Arkansas
He said this product was so controlled
| by combinations that unfair prices We're
artificially maintained.
| He urged that a free market he given
| to foreign manufacturers to break up the
controlling American combination.
| Senator Cummins said he did not be-
leve there was a monopoly in control of
| the manufacture of cast iron pipe. He
/ asserted, however, that the United States
Cast Iron Pipe company attempted to ex-
ercise the power of monopoly insofar
| as it could do So He offered a substitute.
proposing a duty of SO a ton on cast iron
pipe. He declared he intended to offer an
| amendment to the bill, which would per-
init a citizen when Re believed compete
ton had ceased with relation to any COM
modify, to file a complaint in competent
court Should the court decree that COM
petition did not exist, the Secretary of
the Treasury would be authorized to
/ transfer the article to the free list.
Amendment Sustained
| The committee amendment putting pipe
on the free list was sustained by vote
| of Al to II, Eenators Borah, Bristow
Clapp, Crawford, Kenyon, LaFollette and
Poindexter of the minority voting with
! the democrats
| Senator Simmons at the close of the
day moved that the daily hour of meet
ing be II o'clock instead of noon This
was agreed to by unanimous consent.
/ Early in the day Senator Hollis. demo-
crat of New Hampshire. addressed tile
Senate on the tariff bill. the cotton sched-
ule particularly, declaring that he was
Iconfdent the cotton manufacturers would
prosper under the reduced rates.