The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-06
Republicans Weary of Dem
ocratic Persistence in
Reflections
SENATE PLANS TO
CONSIDER MEASURE
Finance Committee to Hold Oral
Hearings r Republicans Efforts
TO Substitute Amendments
Show Little Real Effect
THE DAY IN c0NGRIsssss
SENATE,

4
Met at noon.
President Wilson submitted nonira-
tions for confirmation
Chairman simmons of finanee con-
mittee announced no public hearing
on tariff bill would be held
Senator Pomerene introduced resa-
luton providing for Investigation Of
civil service conditions
Senator Olive introduced resolution
calling for all papers and Information
relative to request for resignation OF
Collector Iiill at Port of PHILADELPHIA
Senator Works made an address on
trusts and combinations
Adjourned at 5:42 p. m. until o'clock
Tuesday.
Mel ct il a. m
Resumed reading OF tariff bill for
amendment under five minute debate
rule
Continued discussion of the free list
at night session.
Adjourned at 1905 p. m. untl Il
o'clock tomorrow
Recessed at 4:15 p. m. until p. ia
Washington, May 5.-The free list ~
the Underwood tariff bill with It's dem
ocratic promises Of reductions IN tie cost
OF living. furnished the erist for the leg
islative mills OF the House today. through
a monotonous session to republicans
wearied by the persistence with which the
democrats rejected all amendments. made
perfunctory attempts to place on the du-
table list articles. the Underwood bill
would admit free. There was little Of a
real struggle about the republican efforts,
however and only few minor amend-
ments proposed by the ways and means
&c ad1
While the House dragged along through
the bill, the Senate finance COMMITTEES
made its plans for considering the bill
when it shall have passed the House. 1t
was decided not to hold oral hearings on
the various schedules. but to accept and
consider any briefs that might he sub
mitted by those interested in the tariff.
Attack Paragraphs
In the House republicans attacked a
majority Of the hundreds of paragraphs in
the lengthy free list. In almost every in
stance they argued that admission of the
various articles free would ruin the in
dustry' and would not reduce the cost
of living Majority Leader Underwood
pointed out that this argument was in
consistent.
In order to ruin the industries" he
said, "as you gentlemen seem bound to
do, it would be necessary TO reduce the
price the producers receive. This would
inevitably result, in a reduction to the
consumer
To eliminate unnecessary debate, Mr..
Underwood, after the free list had been
about one-half completed, made an agree
ment to pass the para sraphs which were
not in controversy without debate. The
disputed paragraphs were then taken up
in order.
Republican opposition eentered about
the paragraphs which were then taken up
in order.
Republican opposition centered about
the paragraphs admitting free Of duty
coal iron ore, cotton. wool. wheat. wheat
flour, corn. buc<wheat wood pulp and
print paper. meats. lumber. potatoes.
works of art fish, steel rails. barbed wire
and dairy products. All of the amend
ments offered were argued in a more or
less perfunctory fashion and the swell
tering majority, forced to remain in their
seats in the hall where the temperature
scared, drowned each succeeding repub-
lioan proposition in deluge of noes
An unsuccessful effort was made by
Representative Moore Of Pennsylvania %
have Bibles taken from the free list. lie
paid tribute to the Scriptures but said
he saw no reason why Bibles of foreign
manufacture should be admitted free ot
duty for sale i'm this country.
Representative Stevens of Minnesota
wanted harness and saddlery put on the
dutiable list. and Representative Garner
of Massachusetts and others sought tn
impose duties OH boots and shoes. This
brought Representative Peters of Massa-
chuetts to his feet with a declaration that
free boots and shoes would place ths
fronstu,,ad nm Is.o. GcfrhtN