The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-08-02
DEBATING THE NEW TARIFF



BILL.
Washington press dispatches dat
ed July 10 brought the Information
that debate on the UnderWood-Sim-
mons tariff bill began that day with
Chairman Simmons of the finance
committee proclaiming the new bill
d satisfactory answer to the demand
for downward revision, and Senator
Cumnlins, speaking from a progress
sive Republican standpoint, predicting
it would carry the Democratic party
to defeat
Senator Simmons contended that
the farmer and consumer would both
be largely benefited by the enactment
OF the pending measure, whereas the
manufacturer had been the benefici-
airy Of an undue share of the protec-
ticn provided by the Payne-Aldrich
law that has been in effect since
1909. The senator disputed the state
ment that the farmer is discriminate
ed against in the new bill and ar
gued, on the contrary, that he is
specially favored, because practical
ly everything he buys has been put
on the free list or the duties have
been greatly reduced and such
farm products as wheat, flour, cat
tie, sheep, swine, sugar, wool, eggs
and potatoes were enumerated as
being among the articles added to
the free list.
It is probable the dispatches con-
fused the continuity of the chair
mans argument on this, point, how
ever, as it is not clear how the
farmer can benefit by the removal of
the existing protective duties on his
products.
Senator Simmons argued that both
importations and expectations would
be increased in volume as result Of
the passage Of the bill under discus
sion. and that this was one of the
considerations the trainers had al
ways borne in mind and labored to
subserve.
Senator Cummins condemned the
bill as defective, unfair and section
AL He said the Republican party
had been driven from power large
1y because it insisted upon the MAIN
tenance of import duties, many Of
which were unnecessarily and OPP
pressively high" and that sthe Dem
ocradic party will soon be overtaken
with like disaster, because it is
about to inflict upon the country a
tariff law which, with respect to
many things, invites the perils of free
trade, and which, with respect to
many others, imposes duties that are
dangerously and destructively low,
and which, from end to end,
grievously discriminates against the
west in favor of the east-that is to
say, in favor of the manufacturer
against the farmer
The Iowa senator declared the be-
lief that the bill would be materially
changed and modified If members OF
congress voted their convictions, but
that these changes and notifications
would not be made, largely because
of the coercive influence of the pres
ident of the United States, who
assuming to interpret and apply
the economic doctrine Of his party,
has laid the heavy hand of his power
upon branch of the government
that ought to be coordinate, but
which in fact has been subordinate
Senator smoot of Utah also made
a strong argument against the bill,
holding the floor throughout a ma
ior portion of two days sessions
of the senate, and closely Analysing
the measure from beginning to end.
He branded it as 1.-THE most in
furious tariff measure ever taken
up for consideration by congress-,
and cited the opinions of such
prominent Democrats as Gov. Foss
of Massachusetts,, VIM. R. Hearst
Of New York, the Democratic sena-
tors from Louisiana, senators and
leading Democratic citizens of
Colorado, Montana and other states
as justifying this criticism. He
contended the bill would hurt the
south particularly and that 'sof it's
many monstrous provisions perhaps
the worst is the one designed to
annihilate the production of sugar
in this country
The Democrats in the senate seem
to have decided on the policy OF
taking as little part in the discus
sion of the bill as practicable, re-
lying upon the party fealty and
pledges of the Democratic majority
to carry the measure through ire
spective of the arguments that may
be brought against it.
The Republican senators are said
to have agreed not to attempt to de-
lay the progress of the bill unnec-
essarily, but they will insist on a
full discussion of it's schedules and
features in order. that the people
may have a full understanding OF
the reasons why the measure is
opposed.
The lease of the ferry between
Hohen Solms and Belle Helene was
sold at public auction last Saturday
by Parish Treasurer G. C.. Weber for
term of four years, the purchaser
being W. C. Hayward, Of Hohen
solms, who will pay $40 per annum