Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-23

of the best parliamentarlans in the House,
will preside throughout the debate while
the bill is technically before the House as
a committee of the whole House.
Expects Quick Action.
Mr. Underwood reiterated today his
view that five days of general debate
and week more for the reading OF
the bill with the privilege of Eve
minute speeches to each member
would be sufficient in the House. He
has been comforting with senator's, and
has indicated that he believes the bill
will go through the Senate with very
little change from the form in which
it has run the gantlet of the House
caucus.
Representatives Payne. Moore and
speeches for the minority Of the ways
and means committee, the former
favoring republican substitutes for the
wooden and cotton schedules. and the
other two making the fight against
the bill as a whole.
will you hazard a guess as to when
the tariff bill is likely to become a
law" Representative Underwood was
"Oh. nor he replied. ITS impossible
for any man to guess that accurately
now"
Greeted With Applause.
When the House convened Mr.. Under
wood took his place at a table placed In
the we'll Of the House Two clerks brought
in a mass Of papers, books and documents
for the use of the democratic leader and
took their seats at the table to assist
the Speaker in handling his references.
When Mr.. Underwood was recognized he
was greeted with a round of applause
from the democratic side, in which the
crowded galleries Joined.
The republican leaders and Representa-
tive Murdoch. the progressive leader. ar
gued for some time over the division OF
the minority time between the republic
ans and the progressives. 1t was finally
agreed to give the progressives five hours
of the minority time. Altogether about
fifty hours Of general discussion In the
House will be allowed.
Mix-Ups at the Start.
Several parliamentary mix-ups delayed
matters. and 1t was some time before Mr..
Underwood began his speech.
1.-The enactment Of this bill into law
will mark the end of an era in the fiscal
administration Of this country and the
beginning Of a new one,' the speaker be-
gan. and the democrats applauded.
Mr.. Underwood discussed the origin Of
the present high tariff system" declar-
ing that it was instituted as an emer-
gency measure during the civil war.
These unjust war taxes he said.
have been maintained ever since, and
those who had amassed fortunes under
1t have controlled the government, ex-
cept for one brief interval"
Closely Follows Report.
Mr.. Underwood, in his discussion Of the
BILL followed closely the arguments out
lined in the report Of the democratic ma
jority of the ways and means committee
on the tariff bill.
"Our great responsibility, said Mr..
Underwood, "is the interest and rights
of the great mass Of consumers among
the American people. From our view
point industry must be considered as sec
ondary to the rights Of the consumer"
After outlining the increases In the
cost of living presented by the committee
in its report, Mr.. Underwood said:
"A great proportion Of this increase
was caused by the abnormally nigh pro-
lection given to the great manufacturing
interests of this country under the re-
publican tariff bill.
Mr.. Underwood said that the passage
of the bill would not Immediately be fol-
lowed by reductions In the cost or living.
But I believe" he said, that within
a reasonable time after the merchants
high protective tariff the people of. this
country will find the cost of living de-
creased.
Action on Senate Side.
Party conferences over the tariff dis
cussjon were resumed at the Senate end
of the Capitol early today. Democratic
members OF the finance committee met
with a number of democratic senators
from western states who object to the
abolition of all tariff from wool and
su1ar Republican members of the COM
v,,ttee snent the day at work over the
bill.
oratic Leader Kern, Chairman Simmons
of the finance committee and others has
convinced democratic leaders that the
tariff bill can be passed through the Sen
ate without change when the finance
Committee finally determines upon its
form. Republican ranks are not united
unon the measure, however.
Work On Amendments.
Senators La Toilette, Brstow, Cummins
and others are working upon particular
features of the law. and are not expected
to support the view OF the republican
leaders upon all points.
Senator La Toilette has been authorized
to employ an expert to assist him in pre-
paring substitutes for many schedules of
the bill, he will offer on the floor Of the
Senate when the measure comes up
MID DRIVES AMERICAN