The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-04-22
DONOVAN NOTIFIES
CAUCUS HE'LL NOT
BE BOUND TO BILL
Congressman from This District
Wants to Be at Liberty to
Vote as He PIeaseS
However, Washington Veterans
Expect Underwood Bill to
Slide Through the House
Without Trouble
Ry Our Staff correspondent.>

By Our Staff Correspondent
Washington, April 22-Representa-
tive Donovan of the 4th Connecticut
has notified the chairman of the Dem
ocratic caucus that he reserved the
right to vote against certain sections
| of the proposed tariff bill on the
ground that he believes they affect
| the interest of his district. He is of
| the opinion that one cut in the bill
that is too drastic is the cut in the
hat schedule, and the notice served
upon the chairman is merely formal,
and paves the way for him to carry
his fight to the floor OF the house.
There is to be another session of the
caucus, this evening, however, and he
will make effort at that time to
amend the bill. Mr.. Donovan Is not
alone i'm reserving his right not to
abide by the decision of the caucus
upon the whole bill Up to yesterday
there were 16 who had made such
William Kennedy Of Naugatuck, who
has several interests in his district
which claim that they have been cut
too much by the bill It is believed
that Mr.. Lonergan will take a stand
with them because of the free Filipino
it is said that he had not received
single protest from a Connecticut
Valley grower.
Congressman Donovan has been sue
cessful in getting the members of the
Ways & Means committee to put Co
ney and rabbit skins back on the
free list This is the fur that is
used in the manufacture of fur felt
hats, and the committee put the skins
on the dutiable list with a 10 per cent
ad valoren rate because they were of
the opinion that the furs went into
fur coats that were a luxury.
By using the same persuasive meth
DDS he was able to get the Ways &
Means committee to agree to putting
vegetable ivory on the free list. This
was requested by several industries
in Fairfield and New Haven counties.
Mr.. Donovan is the recipient of let
ters from Connecticut manufacturers
assuring him of their confidence in his
support of the interests in Fairfield
County.
The consensus of opinion among the
Democratic congressman who have
been here two terms is that the I'm
derwood tariff bill is going to pass the
house upon creased rollers. They look
for some changes, however, in the sem
ate, and the big fights will come up
on the sugar and wool schedules. It
is surprising to note what a lasting
impression the Lawrence strike situa-
ton has had upon many of the mem
bers Of Congress, and the fact that
the heavily protected wooden industry
was productive Of such abuses of pro-
CGCl1On DIS were uICON0TSQ In0T0s HAS
done more to influence the represent
tatives from the various states in
their attitude upon the Underwood
tariff bill than anything else.
One western representative said last
night. eff protection means heads of
families must work for 81 q week and
rear their families in two rooms, in
a crowded s1um district then 1t is
about time that we ceased that kind
of legislation and fostered a policy
that puts the newcomer of this coun- |
try upon the farms instead of into |
the city foreign colony. This SEN
timent seems to underlie the |
thoughts of the majority who believe
that Uncle Sam has not been fair to |
his newly arrived immigrant in |
him to the mill towns to get |
his first idea of American institutions |
and the principles which lengendered |
the Declaration of Independence"
Congressman Donovan is making his |
fight against the lowering of the hat
schedule on the ground that the reduc- |
ton in tariff is not going to lower the |
price to the consumer, but is only go
ing to reduce it to the rnidd1enan. It
is estimated that the change from SO |
to 10 per cent. duty is going to re-
duce the duty $1.20 a dozen. He claims |
that the change of 10 cents per hat
will not make it possible for the |
wearer to buy a 81. so hat for $40 but |
er to buy English and italian made |
hats for 10 cents less than they have
been buying them. He claims that |
one of the Inconsistencies of the bill /
Is that there is 40 per cent. ad va
Eorem duty on straw hats where the
average labor cost is $1.26 a dozen and
that a similar 40 per cent. duty is ap-
Piled to fur felt hats where the aver
age labor cost is $7.20 a dozen.
1t looks to the members of the Con
II II,
Hill, former represen tative from the !
Fourth district had had Joker insert
ed in the bill reorganiZing the custom
service, and it looks very much as
though the Collector at Bridgeport,
Fred Fmos would hold office until Feb
1914.
Representative jeremiah Donovan
has sent to the Post Office department
the name of George F. Hamtll with
the recommendation that he be APP
pointed postmaster at Georgetown
This is an office of the third class,
salary $1,000.
Congressman Kennedy's reservation
IF his right to vote outside Of the eau
Gus is based upon his desire TO change
he knit fabric schedule, the hat
ind eyes.
CONGRESSMAN Lonergan has received
Ind presented to the house a resolu-
ion from the Hartford Board of
Trade opposing the consolidation of
he Connecticut Custom houses. Tt
s not believed here that the protest
will have weight as it would reopen
he matter of the consolidation act
which affected the custom service
the country.
Washington. April 81, 19131Congress-
nan Reilly made sure that the sfMer-
ware manufacturers would be protect
ID from jokers in the Underwood bill