The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-05-15
UNDERWOOD BILL
PASSES HOUSE
Democrats Rejoice
Over Success
Vote Stood 2sl ITO 129

answer W ilo pidtlOIm pAcuSc W io
duce the tariff downward, was passed
by the House late Thursday. The
vote was 281 to 1923, five Democrats
voting against the bill and two Re-
publicans voting for it. Four Pro-
gressives supported the measure and
fourteen opposed it, while one indie
pendent Progressive joined with the
majority.
When Speaker Clark announced the
vote in loud tones, that revealed his
satisfaction in the arrival of the day
he long had sought, exuberant Demo-
Gratis hoisted stuffed Democratic
donkey over the heads of their collea-
CUES in the rear of the chamber; a
faint ripple of applause followed and
the gavel fell on the first chapter in
the history of President Wilson's ex-
ira session of congress.
With the bill, after a months con-
sideration, on its way to the Senate,
there was a rush of Representatives
for their homes. In the House ad
journment will be taken three days
at time, beginning this week, until
June l. In the meantime the Senate
finance committee will study the bill,
while the House ways and means COM
mittee will organize committees pre-
paratory to the transaction of further
business next month.
Republicans and Progressives led
respectively by Representatives Mann
and Murdoch, protested to the last
against the measure, the lowest tariff
bill ever written, and proclaimed as
the Democratic avalanche bowled
them over, the virtues of differing
tariff commission plans.
Republicans, who voted for the bill,
were Carey and Stafford of WiScon
sin
Democrats who opposed it were
Broussard, Dupre, Lazaro and Morgan
OF Louisiana, on account of the sched
ule reducing sugar twenty-five per
cent and sending it to the free list in
three years. and C. B. Smith of New
York
Progressives who voted for the bill
were Kelly and Ripley of Pennsylvan-
la, Nolan of California and Bryan of
Washington. Kent of California, for
merly a Republican, but now an In
dependent Progressive, also voted for
the bill Progressive Leader Murdoch
and thirteen of his Progressive follow
ers voted with the minority.
Representative Copley, Progress
siye did not vote, answering present
to his name.
In the final consideration of the
measure, Minority Leader Mann spoke
on the first of the order by Mr.. I'm
derwood to rule out provisions of the
board by Representative Payne of
New York to recommit the bill
Speaker Clark sustained the point of
order. Mr. Mann appealed from the
decision of the chair and the roll call
was taken on Mr.. Underwoods mo-
ton to table the appeal, the Demo-
Gratis winning 274 to 143. Progress
sive Leader Murdoch also moved to
recommit with instructions to provide
for non-partisan tariff commission,
but he failed to get a roll call and
then the Payne motion to recommit
minus the tariff board provision WI
lost 1913 to 296.
Friday the tariff fight shifted from
the House with it's overwhelming
Democratic majority to the Senate,
where the party's slim majority of six
already had been reduced, as far as
this bill is concerned, to four Unless
senators familiar with the progress
with such legislation are mistaken
there is little prospect of final vote
on the bill before August /.
The bills passage through the Sen
ate will be fought at every step by a
Republican organization apparently
entirely in accord on this subject and
entirely willing to spend unlimited
time and energy in an effort to defeat
it,
Leaders of the Democrats on the
Senate finance committee which will
handle the bill expressed the belief
that it would go through in practically
the same form as it passed the House
and that their small majority will
stand firm to the last. The sub-com-
mittees of the finance committee,
which have been investigating the
schedules of the Underwood bill for
the last few weeks, plan to make a
few changes in several schedules, but
wool and sugar and other schedules
which brought out the hard fighting
In the House are not to be touched,
according to the present plan.
The income tax and administration
features are also to stand
Democratic leaders acknowledge
that the two Senators from Louisiana
will not accept the sugar schedule and
that they might be willing to combine
with others to defeat the whole bill.
A change of two more Democratic
votes would bring about the end of
the Louisianans desire. Although the
reports about the Senate that the
Democrats intend to allow one more
Senator to vote against sugar and an
other to vote against WOOL leaders of
the finance committee refused to con-
firm it. Republicans who are inter
ested in beating. the bill and who
have canyassed those Democrats who
looked at all doubtful agreed that they
had but little hope of success. The
Republicans are convinced that Presi-
dent Wilson will carry the day and
the party platform will be followed
and that with the exception of the two
Senators from Louisiana they cannot
count upon a single vote.
The Republican fight against the
bill, however, will be conducted in
vigorous style. Senator Smoot will
offer amendments to every schedule
in the bill. These will be debated
at length and a record vote probably