The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-24
SENATE TO AMEND
UNDERWOOD BILL
IN SEVERAL Ways
Sugar and Wool Are Expected
to Get the Votes for
Republicans
THEN 1T WILL GO
INTO CONFERENCE
House Will Win There and
the Directing Democrats.
Having Made Fight.
viii Surrender

WASHINGTON, May 23.-Demo-
cratic leaders in the senate now
fully expect that the Underwood bill
will be amended in important par
ticulars In the senate IL not sooner
in the finance committee. or the Demo
cratic caucus. The belief Is growing
that the bill when It leaves the senate
will carry a duty on agar OF between
10 and so cents per hundred pounds.
and that wool will be taxed 20 per
cent instead of being on the free list
as at present
It il further expected that when the
tariff bill comes back from the COM
mittee free wool and ultimate free
the bill at present. 1t will then be
up to the senate to engage in a tug
Of war with the house over the ac-
ceptance Of the conference report
Four Democrats Wayerfng.
The Republican leaders In congress
have information which leads some
Of them at least to believe that the
shrewder % th1 Democratic leaders
a
best solution OF the troublesome prob
lem presented to them by the sugar
and wool schedules in the senate.
They realize that at least two Demo
cratic senators will vote for an
amendment to put q duty on wool
when the Republicans offer Il in the
senate, and that the two from Louisi
ana will vote for a duty n-sn8&r
Indications are that these four
Democratic senators. and probably
more have reached an understanding.
or will reach one shortly. by which
they will pool issues. and be able
by Joining with the Republicans to
amend the bill In the senate.
The Democratic leaders believe that
when the final test comes on accept
ing or rejecting the tariff bill as a
whole. after 1t has been returned from
the conference committee carrying
free wool and ultimate sugar the
recalcitrant Democrats will yield and
accept the bill practically in the form
in which President Wilson has ap-
proved 1t.
Would Save Their Faces.
This course would allow the Demo
cratic senators to save their faces
with their home folks
Realizing the possibility OF such q
denouement the Republican. leaders
are planning to put the responsibility
squarely up to the Democratic sena-
tors who profess to be ardently In
favor OF a duty on wool or on sugar
There is a conciliatory spirit among
the members Of the finance committee
toward the Wnstern senators, and the
two Louisiana senators who are stand
ing out for the wool duty and the
sugar. Several compromise sugges-
tons have been made, but nothing
has been agreed on.
Ransdell Blames Trust
II IL said that Senator Ransdell will
strike blow next week when he ad-
dresses the senate in an effort to
draw q distinction between the sugar
trust" and the growers of cAno and
beets. The senator insists that the
strongest single influence that works
tor free sugar Ii the trust. The
speech promises to be Sensational.
Senator Walsh, Of Montana whose
attitude has been more. or less In
doubt. has issued : public statement
to the Democrats Of his State In which
he resents the attempt to ''paliory'
Democratic senators who insists on q
duty on wool and sugar.