Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-04-18
CAUCUS MAKING
. SLOW PROGRESS
House Democrats Discuss Agri.
cultural Schedule.
CITY ANO COUNTRY COLLIDE

Members From Thickly Populated
Districts Contend That All Farm
and Food Products Should Be Placed
on the Free List-Me mbers From
AGRICULTURAL States Complain That
Rates Sacrifice Interests Of Farmers.
Washington, April 15.-City was ar
rayed against country when the
Democratic members of the house of
representatives resumed consideration
in caucus of the Underwood tariff bill.
The fellows from the city," as they
were characterized by Representative
Shackleford of Missouri, turned their
batteries ON the agricultural sched-
ule, which imposes small protection
rates on nearly all products of the
farm. The city members expressed
the belief that, in order to help the
market basket" all farm and food
products should be placed on the free
list. ,..
They urged this view when the bill
was before the committee on ways
and means and in clarion tones they
reiterated it. They declared that, as
an evidence of good faith, the Demo
cratic party ought to try free trade
in food products in an effort to reduce
the cost of living
Representative Hammond of Mime
sofa, who helped to frame the agri-
cultural schedule, defended it. He
said it was not entirely satisfactory
to him, but it represented compro-
mise, fair in the main to all interests
involved. .....
Most Of the members from agricul-
tural states complained bitterly that
the rates Of the schedule under con-
sideration sacrificed the interests of
the farmers. They urged that the re.
auctions would in no wise affect the
cost of living and that, this being so,
it would be the wise thing to accord
the farmers little more incidental
protection"
Both sides to the controversy ham,
mered the rates of the Underwood
agricultural schedule, but when the
time. came to vote the majority of the
caucus stood by Chairman Underwood
and his associates.
Harrison Defends Schedule.
An element of humor was injected
in the session by the appearance of
Representative Harrison of New York
as defender of the agricultural
schedule. Mr.. Harrison was one of
the leading advocates of free farm
products when the Underwood bill
was in course of preparation in the
committee on ways and means and he
clashed on number of occasions with
Mr.. Hammond.
Owing to illness Representative Un-
derwood was able to be present. As
the ranking Democrat next to Mr.. IN
derwood it became necessary, there
fore, for Mr.. Harrison to act as lead
er and, accordingly, he had to defend
the agricultural schedule. Mr.. Harri-
son made good job of it. He did his
work so we'll that the "city fellows"
failed in every effort they made eth
er to reduce rates or to transfer GER
tain products to the free list.
Although the committee won out
on every question brought into contro-
versy little progress was made on the
agricultural schedule. Less than a
page Of it was considered. Nobody
seemed to be particularly happy over
the rates of the agricultural schedule
and nearly everybody growled about
it.
One amendment was offered provid-
ing that cattle should be placed on the
free list instead of carrying rate of
10 per cent ad valorem as provided by
the bill. This was defeated.
Another amendment was offered in
creasing the duty on barley, which is
taxed at the rate of Is cents bushel
in the bill as compared with 80 cents
in the existing law. .-