New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-12
Movement to Remove All Duty
at Once Making Remarkable
Roadway in the Demo-
cratic Caucus.
CRUCIAL FIGHT ON TO-DAY
Only the Most Earnest Efforts
by Underwood Can Prevent
Success of the Ants -
Shoe Machinery Made
Non-Dutiable.
From The Tribune Bureau. J


offered in the Democratic caucus to-
morrow to put sugar Immediately on
the free list and to strike from the
Underwood bill the provision for -
per cent reduction and free sugar after
three years.
The movement TO put sugar on the
free list at once received decided inn
petus to-day when the caucus made its
first change in the tariff bill. Shoe
machinery was put on the non-dutiable
list. and the rate of - per cent carried
i'm the Ways and Means Committee bill
was defeated on A viva vOce vote. An
almost successful effort was made to
remove all duty from machine tools.
Several Democratic members of the
House are ready with amendments TO
place sugar on the free list without
three years grace. One Of these DEM
ocrats to-day sounded President Will
son. who was directly responsible for
the language in the new tariff bill. The
President made no effort TO dissuade
lim from Offering a free sugar amend
ncnt. In fact. Mr. Wilson made it
plain that he would not interfere in
any way with the caucus. Democratic
leaders Of the House are aware to-
hight Of the Presidents attitude. and
the Ways and Means Committee alone
must defend its sugar rates.
Crucial Fight To-day.
The crucial fight on sugar will come
tomorrow As told exclusively in Tie
Tribune's dispatches Of last night, there
is a strong sentiment in the House for
the immediate free listing of sugar.
and grave apprehension exists among
the trainers of the tariff bill that the
compromise arrangement may be re-
jected. The general impression among
House Democrats tonight is that he
vote on sugar will be close and The
caucus tomorrow will be most heated.
1t is regarded as significant hat
when the President had an oppo:tu-
nifty to-day TO interfere in the plans Of
the radical revisionists he contented
himself with declaring his neutrality.
Louisiana Democrats. who hoped &c
strike from the bill the clause putting
sugar on the free list after three year,,
are now confronted with more immedi-
ate disaster. and only the most earnest
efforts Of Mr. Underwood and other
leaders can prevent the adoption Of the
free sugar now" amendment.
Democrats who are resentful over tie
free listing of wool. boots and shoes,
fish and agricultural products, whicn go
on the non-duti; lie list with the pas
sage of the bill, are in league and de-
termined TO see that sugar meets an
equally summary fate.
Several members are anxious TO offer
the free sugar amendment but to Rep
resentatve Thomas w. Hardvick, OF
Georgia. will be given the right Of way.
Mr.. Hardwick was chairman OF the
sugar investigating committee Of the
SD Congress and was persisted adj
vooate Of the Underwood free sugaS
bill of the last session. It is mainly
for this reason that other radical re-
yisionists will yield TO the Georgian.
Underwood Embarrassed.
Unless Mr. Underwood makes it
personal issue and pleads with the eau
Gus 10 stand by the Ways and Means
Committee free sugar is expected 10
carry tomorrow. The majority leader
IS somewhat embarrassed by the fact
that i'm the last session he championed
the cause OF free sugar both in the
caucus and on the floor. and yielded
only last week on the insistence Of the
President, who now seems disinclined
TO NEEDLE with the caucus.
1t will also be pointed out in debate
tomorrow that the House Democracy
las jumped through the hoop as re-
.ards wool and sugar The OLD Under
wood bills provided for free sugar and
90 per cent wool. The new bills pro-
vide for free wool and dutiable sugar,
complete reversal of position which
Democrats Of the Ways and Means
Committee must defend as best they
NAV because Of the White House man
date.
Acting for the Louisiana sugar mem
bers. Mr.. Broussard will offer amend
ments to make the hundredweight rate
on SO degree sugar from Cuba 81 II on
passage of the bill, S1OJ6 on June 80.
1916. and % 30 cents on June 30,
1919. instead OF Sl.34S. as under the
present law, and SlOO4S in the COM
mittee bill. This would mean by COM
parison with the present tariff law
reduction Of 20 cents at the outset, 20
cents in 1916 and 81 cents in 1919. on
100 degree sugar cane from sources
ether than Cuba. the Broussard amend
ments would make a net reduction from
the present rates of 3Il2 cents hun
dred pounds on passage Of the bill, 30
cents in 1916 and 81 cents in 1919. The
pending tariff bills rate is "a cents.
Another Broussard amendment would
extend the period Of grace under which
the contemplated free sugar basis was
TO be reached to four years, so as to
carry the whole question beyond the
next national election.
Action q Surprise.
The overthrow by the caucus Of the
pyoposed rates on shoe machinery was as
UNEXPECTED as was the increasing
strength OF the free sugar sentiment. Mr..
q he opA