The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-07
Fight Will Center on Wool and
Sugar Schedules.
TO DEBATE THROUGH AUGUST
Hope Based on Getting Re-
cruitS From Democrats.
LaFOIlette and SmOOt Prepare
Opposition Plans.

washington, July 1.-RepuDllcdn
members of the senate have been
quietly preparing for some weeks for
the attack that is to be made on the
Underwood-Simmons tariff bill when
it gets back into the senate this week.
While a program of tariff policy has
not been laid out, leading Republicans
in the senate have prepared amend
ments substitute schedules and protec-
ton arguments directed at many of
the important sections of the Demo-
cratic bill.
Senator Simmons, chairman of the
finance committee, who will bring the
bill in from the committee with the
seal of Democratic caucus approval
upon it. estimates five weeks will be
enough to wind up general debate and
to secure a vote on final passage.
The bill has been in the Democratic
caucus more than two weeks. 1t has
taken much longer than had been ex-
pected to smooth over debated ques-
tions and to bring about an agreement
on tariff rates, income tax, and other
important features carried in the bill.
The Democrats are not yet in COM
plete harmony, because of the insist
ence of some western and southern
senators that the free sugar and free
wool plans of the administration be
modified. An attempt is to be made
to put a binding rule through the eau
Gus. pledging every Democrat to vote
down amendments in the senate and
to support the bill in it's entirety. OPP
position to this plan exists within the
party ranks.
Even though the Democrats may
adopt the unit rule and attempt to
stamp out all opposition that might
come from sugar and wool districts,
the Republican leaders will use every
effort on the floor to break the
strength of the Democratic ranks. Ad-
vocates of the protective duties on
these articles and on many others that
have been greatly reduced by the
Democratic~bill, will seek to muster
strength from the sugar and wool
states to effect desired changes.
Smoot and LaFoIlette.
Two views of the Republican atti-
tude are shown in the work that has
been done by Senator Smoot CUtah)
and Senator LaFollette CWis.) in prep
aration for the approaching fight in
the senate. Senator Smoot has pre-
pared amendments to scores or the
Democratic rates and will offer COM
plete substitute for the Democratic
wool tariff plan. His proposal VIII be
for a substantial reduction In raw
wool and on manufactured goods. but
on such a basis that reasonable protec-
ton will be retained
Senator LaFollette has been at work
preparing substitute schedules for
many sections of the Underwood
Simmons bill. He also has again at
tackled the wooden and cotton sched-
ules and is prepared to make a stub
born fight to rally Republicans, Pro-
gressives and some Democrats to the
support of a woolen tariff that will be
much below the present rates, but Will
preserve some protection.
Plan of Republican Senators.
been working upon various features
of the tariff revision and will insist
upon discussing at length and from
every angle reductions they think
threaten the life of American indus
tries. It is believed that the tariff
debate will not be concluded in the
senate before the last week CT
August.
Lobby Investigations. which grew
out of the tariff revision bill have
gone far beyond it's realm and prom
Use to engross the attention of con-
gress again this week. The senate's
investigating committee will begin
series of hearings that is expected to
last for two weeks or more. Interest
will center about the activities of Of
ficers of the National Association of
Manufacturers, who have been
charged by Martin NJ. Mulhal1, ono
of their former employees, with be-
ing engaged in a general attempt to
influence legislation and to control
i the election of members of con-
greSs-
Should the house succeed Wednes-
day in adopting the resolution de-
bated, the Mulhall investigation will
be a doubled barreled affair, with
committees working it up at each
end of the capitol
The senate committee will dispose
of witnesses connected with Wall
street activities and with the activity
in Washington in support of tariff
duties on sugar and wool before TAX
ing up the Mulhall charges.
Weather Forecast for Kansas.
Fair tonight and Tuesday; cooler