Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-22
PUBLIC HEARINGS
BARRED, Al TO So
Two Democratic Senators Vote
with Minority on Tariff Bill
Question.

Washington, May lG.-Dcmocratic lead
crs in the Senate We're endorsed late to-
day in their determination to refer the
Underwood tariff bin to the finance COM
mittee for consideration without public
hearings. The Penrosc-La Toilette
amendment directing that public hear
ings be held, was defeated by a vote
of Al to sc. and the motion of Senator
Simmons to refer the bill was then
passed without roll call
The democrats, Senators Ransden and
Thornton of Louisiana, voted for the re-
publican amendment. Senator Poiudex-
ter of Washington, progressive, voted
with the majority. Senator Jones of
Washington, republican. who previously
had determined to vote against public
hearings, announced just before the roll
call that he had changed his mind be-
cause the finance subcommittee We're
giving private hearings to some inter
ests which he thought should be public
The closing debate on the issue of
hearings was cnivencd with discussion
OF the democratic platform and It's hear
ing on free sugar by Senator James Of
Kentucky who vigorously defended the
stand taken by President Wilson for
free sugar. declared the party had stood
fer free sugar and campaiEned on it,
and dehed the Louisiana senators to find
a man President wilson had ever told
he was opposed to free sugar.
Senators Smoot, La Toilette ana Clark,
wound up the debate on behalf of the
public hearing amendment Senator
~ no II ip
party would bc put out of power for
another quarter of century as re-
suit OF it, tariff bill.
Senator Clark declared that tn Under
wood bill was lust as much a law to-
day as it would be after the Senate had
voted upon It, and Senator LA Toilette
urged the democrats to court the open
door policy.
Tho edict has gone forth" said Sen
ator Clark. "The real vote on this tarin
bill will be taken here as in tho House
where it was taken in secret caucus |
know there are democrats who do not
believe the bill IS Just and righteous al
together who are willing to bow the head
TO the demands Of office and ease the
lash of party eXpediency,
Senator Walsh of Montana was one or
| the few democrats to enter the debate
| Mr. Walsh said he was in receipt or
scores of kilograms urging him TO vote
| for hearings. Most OF them came from
sugar interests, he said, but he believed
| not single fact could be elucidated In
hearings that was not already known'
and he would vote against them.
Senator NeWlands Of Nevada spoke
| briefly on the sugar schedule protesting
/ against sacrificing the sugar production
of this country to Cuba.
The finance committee will meet next
week to hear reports from the suo-com-
mittees engaged in consideration of var
ious schedules of the bill and Chairman
| Simmons hopes to report the bill to the
Senate by June 8. Already quite num-
Der OF minor changes have been sug-
sested by the subcommittee. THESE
Will be considered in the party caucus
to be called before the bill is reported
| Great Interest was manifested in the
| mai contest over the hearings question:
| the galleries being crowded with specta-
tors The senator's private gallery was
flled with guests and in the President
gallery were the Misses Margaret ana
| Eleanor Wilson and "A party of friends
1