The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-04-09
First Open Steps for Pas
sage of New Measure
Promulgated
MANY FEATURES OF
BILL CRITICISED
Free Wool and Proposed Sugar Sched-
ule Principal Features Attacked.
Details of Measure to BE
Taken Up Today

Washington, April s-The light FER
democratic tarin revision began in Con
gress today. Conferences and party
plans, which have held the stage for
weeks past, gave way to the first open
steps for passage of the new tariff bill
President Wilson's personally delivered
message, calling upon his party assist
ants In both Houses to speedily enact
the party's pledges of tarin revision, was
followed by caucus of democratic House
members which will continue for sew
eral days. and in which democrats Will
attempt to settle their differences and
agree upon support of the Underwood
bill
Criticism of many features of the meas
ure developed during the day IN demo-
cratic circles in the Senate. In short
caucus of Senate democrats. held to con-
slider other matters. criticism was voiced
by one or two senators against the free
wool provision and the sugar Jseheduia
proposing free sugar In 1916.
House democrats settled none of the
tariff questions today. The three hour
caucus session was devoted to an ur-
successful fight TO throw the doors open
to the public. a proposal defeated by a
vote of 1e7 to 81 Details of the new tariff
bill will be taken up tomorrow.
Insist Upon Subdivision
Senate leaders still are insistent that
the Underwood bill be subdielded so that
separate votes may be had, II desired,
upon the sugar and wool schedules. One
plan that has been proposed to President
Wilson is that schedules be grouped in
such a way that the tariff viii be COM
prised in four separate measures. These
proposals are based on a growing belief
that opponents of the sugar and wool
provisions may muster strength enough
to threaten defeat of the bill
Many progressive republican senators
expressed their opposition TO the demo-
cratic bill because of the sweeping char
acter of its proposed reductions. Tne
democrats are counting little II ans on
any progressive support in the Senate
should tariff revision go before ina. body
as a single bill.
In the House caucus Representative
Palmer, the chairman, made vehement
plea for letting the public know whag
It's representatives are doing, aligning
himself with President Wilson'S expressed
attitude in favor of throwing all these
meetings open. lie was supported by
Representatives Garlin of Virginia. Shack
elford of Missouri, Thompson and Muir
ray of oklahoma. I+Engle Of Florida and
others
Mr. Palmer conten ed that IN its con
sderation of .he tariff the Caucus would
be transactine legislative business in-
ortant to everyone: that what the caucus
did the House would do and therefore
the real tariff legislation would be III
progress in the caucus
Underwood Opposed Open Caucus
Dembcratic Leader Underwood opposed
the open caucus. lie said 1t was only a
family council within the party and that
II wedld be a mistake TO have the DIFF
fering views exploited In public. Repre-
sentatiyes Fitzgerald of New York Sher-
ley and Thomas of Kentucky, Hefin of
Alabama, Saunders OF Virginia and 9TH
ers Joined in this view. The opposition
centered mainly on maintenance of party
regularity and the probability of secret
preliminary conference II the doors were
opened
Tomorrow the caucus probably will
adopt the ways and means committee ma
1ority recommendations for the only COM
Will reach the tariff programme with
the new tariff handbooks possessed by
every member. The new committees as
recommended by the leaders Of the three
parties follow
Ways and Means-Underwood Alabama,
chairman; Harrison, New York; Shacke-
ford, Missouri; Kitchin, North Carolina;
Rainey Illinois; Dixon. Indiana; Hull.
Tennessee; Hammond. Minnesota; Peters,
Massachusetts. Palmer, pennsylvania,
Ansberry, Ohio; Gardner. Texas: Stanley,
Kentucky; Collier Mississippi demo
crats); Payne, New York, Fordney, Michi-
gan; Gardner, Massachusetts; Moore,
Pennsylvania; Anderson, Minnesota,
Greene, Iowa (repubcans)i Murdoek.
Kansas tprogressivel.
Rules-Henry, Texas chailman Pou,
North Carolina; IIardwicl, Georgia; Gar
rett, Tennessee; Foster, Illinois; Cantrili.
Kentucky; Conry, New York (democrats).
Campbell, Kansas, Lenroot, WISCONSIN,;
Merritt, New York republicans) Cham
der New York progressively.
Accounts-Lloyd, Missouri, chairman.
smith, Texas; Hamill New Jersey; Tn
derhll, New York; Kindell, Colorado:
Howard, Georgia; Abercromoie, Alabama
fdemocrafs) Hughes. West Virginia;
Griest. Pennsylvania; Parker, New YORK
(Continued ON Pnge EieyenD