The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-20
SENATOR SIMMONS
FIRES FIRST SHOT
IN TARIFF FIGHT.
Debate on Measure Opens
With Roar of Big
: Guns
REPUBLICANS FAILED
TO KEEP THE FAITH
Pledges Of 1908 Repudiated.
He Declares--Cummins Criti-
cises Wilson for "Coer-
cling Democrats

WASHINGTON, July 19.--Debate
On the Underwood Simmons tariff bill
opened in the senate today. with a
roar of big guns. Senator Simmons.
chairman of the finance committee,
voiced the Democratic approval OF the
bill. while Senator Cummins, Pro-
gressive Republican. made the first
Republican speech that has yet been
uttered on the merits of the pending
bill. Senator Simmons speech was a
careful analysis and defense of the
tariff bill. The senator declared that
the last political campaign was fought
on the tariff.
He said in part:
when the national conventions OF
tho two great political parties met in
1908 they were confronted with this
overwhelming demand for relief from
the intolerable burdens of a tariff
framed In the interest OF privilege, and
which, while enormously augmenting
the wealth and power of the few,
restricted the opportunities of the
many. and advanced the cost Of liv-
ing beyond the income not only of
the average man, but Of the normal
ly thrifty and weil-to-do.
Make Plain Response.
The Democratic response to these
complaints and demands was unre-
served and unequivocal.
The response Of the Republican
party. while not so specific, was ac-
copied by the country as a pledge to
substantially lower tariff duties and
90 remedy the evils complained OF at
least to the extent of limiting the
power OF combinations and the pro-
tective industries to arbitrarily fix
prices by admitting competition from
the outside. when prfccs here were
raised above the margin OF q fair
profit.
I'm the election Of that year the
Republican party was successful.
eiecting tho president and a majority
in both branches OF congress
Fe.gning to redeem these pledges the
Republican congress of 1900 passed
the so-cailed Payne-Aidrich bill, re-
enacting in effect the Dingiey law.
with q few minor changes in rates
some upward and some down--re-
snlting in practically no change in
the general average giving little or
no relief to the people on the one
hand, and on the other hand taking
from the bcneficiaries OF the tariff but
little, II anything. which was regard
ed by them as worth retaining.
THE substituted ACT was in effect
and substance so nearly the same as
the one 1t superseded that the CUES
ton whether It operated TO revise the
tariff downward or upward was at
the time and still Is matter OF dis
pute.
Scarcely had the act gone into
operation when the dissatisfaction or
the people found expression in a ma
tion-wide agitation for its repeal.
.culminating in the congressional cleo
xion Of 1910 in the overthrow of the
Republican majority in the house OF
representatives and the elevation to
power in that branch Of congress OF
the Democratic party-piedged to re-
wise the tari!Y to a revenue and COM
petitive basis.
Wilson tho Victor.
"In the national campaign OF 1871
the Republican party nominated Mr..
TAFT for president and the Democratic
party nominated Mr.. Wilson. In that
campaign the tarin and the record OF
4he two parties as exemplified by their
action In congress with reference "a
these scheduled bills, and OF Presi-
dent Taft in his veto OF them, became
the paramount issue. Mr.. Wilson
won.
"The bill now presented to the SEN
ate, It 10 confidently believed. is a fair
Interpretation of the will 70 the peo-
pie and Is an honest compliance with
the pledges OF the Democratic party
with respect to the revision of the
tariff.
II wish in the outset to say that
amendments offered by the committee
are not proposed in q spirit of dis
agreement with the house or with the
theory OF tariff revision upon which
that body acted. On the contrary
they are offered with a viewfof further
carrying out and perfecting the prin-
cirles Of q revenue-producing tartn
upon the basis of competitive rates
enunciated by the ways and means
committee Of the house as just and
fair interpretation in the light Of ex-
listing conditions OF the platform
pledges of the dominant party upon
the tariff.
Like the house, we have sought to
find basis OF action which would un-
tax the necessaries of life as far AZ
Is consistent with tho revenue needs
OF the government, which would lay
the heaviest burdens upon the luxu-
rles OF the rich, and which would inn
pose upon those things which were
neither prime necessities nor luxuries
and which were proper subjects Of
tariff taxation. a rate sufficiently COM
petitive to Yield revenues adequate ia
! meet the needs OF the government or
the one hand and on the other oper.
ate AZ a regulation OF domestic prices
by making outside competition at all
times possible.
At Work Two Months.
"Your committee had devoted two
months OF earnest thought. study and
Investigation in consideration OF the
bill submitted to 1t. II has at al
times been impressed with the demand
Of the people for tarif relief from
existing tariff conditions and the
necessity for prompt action In this
j behalf, but we have felt that prudence
and wisdom required that there snoulc
81 I most thorough scrutiny and
fContanuaA III escond xagA1