The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-03
SITUATION is CHAOTIC
Reopening Of Presidential Mind Occurs
After Talk with Underwood.

BY JAMES J. MONTAGUE.
Washington April 2.-The mind of
the President is again open" on the
'arin question. In consequence no
member OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee has the faintest idea what kind
of tariff bill is going to he offered
TO the extra session. Already the
caucus called for Saturday has been
postponed, probably for a week. Dis
cusstons by the committee have been
hung up. Chaotic is the only word
that describes the situation.
Within the last twenty-four hours
MIR. Wilson has decided to reconsider
his determination to have the bill
passed schedule by schedule. He has
come to no decision about free sugar
He has penciled dozens OF notations
on the copy OF the bill brought him by
oscar Underwood, but has not been de-
finite about any of the pencilings. II
he has reached any conclusion beyond
the fact that he wants n decided cut
in the tarin, he has failed to convey
that conclusion to any Senator or mem
Der OF Congress who has talked with
him.
The reopening OF the presidential
mind occurred after his midnight talk
with Underwood.
The staggering sum that must be
raised by the income tax gave the
President deep thought The item or
free sugar alone will cost the country
S59, 900, 900 In revenue. Added to this
loss will be $4,000. 600 from the cor,
poration tax. which cannot under the
constitutional provision against double
taxation be levied when an income tax
IS imposed.
The President. of course, favors an
income tax. but he has no desire to
arouse too much opposition in the con-
struction of tax law. The present
plan is for graduated tax with $4,000
the highest income n man can receive
without taxation. and / per cent or
tho minimum tax. All incomes Of
maximum amount. This maximum has
not been determined, but IT will be
left to the President to stretch IL by
proclamation il necessary to meet the
expenses OF the country. Constitu-
tional precedent for this is found in
the law which authorized tho Presi-
dent to fix canal tolls.
Mr.. Wilson has been made thorough
ly familiar with the conditions I'm the
House and with the adherence" in
the Ways and Means Committee n
difference that amounts to a row.
All tariff on raw wool will be re-
moved at the next session of Congress
according to the plan developed this
evening at n conference between Pres
ident Wilson and members OF the
House Ways and Means Committee
The placing OF raw wool on the free
list will have the hearty support OF all
Democratic members OF the committee
II this becomes a fact the free wool
Democrats OF the House will score a
triumph for which they have worked
for two years.
Meanwhile. congressman are begin
ming to fill up the vacant Offices in the
House Office Building and to demand
loudly for some inklinS of the tariff
program.
The Democratic majority Is tracta-
bic. and will follow Underwood any
where he wants to go. But that lead
err who don't know who're hos going.
though he's on his way" must wait
for the word from the White House.
and is literally helpless when besieged
for information.
Hitherto Mr.. Underwood has not an
proved OF Presidents rs tariff makers.
In his tariff speech on the floor May
3. 1910. no said:
From the beginning OF the govern
mcnt down to the present time we
have written every tariff bill that this
country has lived under without the
intervention or tho dictation OF the
President of the United States. The
Congress up TO this time has been
able to exercise sufficient intelligence
ana Suficient energy to gather tho
facts themselves an~ put their find
ingG into law"
Now, however. Mr. Underwood, hav-
ing chosen to cooperate with the
President. finds himself and the whole
Democratic majority In the position Of
waiting for the President to write the
tariff before any action can TO taken
They may get n better tariff that
way, but 1t Is generally agreed that
MI hn
his mind that they will DO all summer
making 1t.
Tho Ways and Means Committee is
lined up as follows: With Underwood
for n moderate Embellishments. Min
nesota; Hull, Tennessee; Palmer,
Pennsylvania: Petors Massachusetts;
Shackelford, Missouri; AnsDerry. Ohio.
Against Underwood for radical
tarih--Francis Burton Harrison, New
YnrE. Kltchin North fyarolina. ID a