The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-13
As to Suuar,

"aSnlHSton, April 12-lmmedlate
free sugar was rejected today by tho
house democratic caucus by an over
whelming vote, following an appeal of
the democratic leaders to stand by the
president and ways and means COM
mittee. This leaves the sugar sched-
ule unchanged from the compromise
form in which 1t was presented to the
caucus by Chairman Underwood and
his colleagues of the committee, follow
ing conferences between the White
House and leaders of both houses of
congress. The democratic members of
the committee, including such free
traders as Representative Harrison of
New York and Rainey of Illinois, stood
as II unit for the three-year gradual
reduction to a free sugar basis.
Besides this action the caucus left
open the exact date when sugar Woua
go on the free list in 1916. An amend
ment proposed by Representative
Hardwick of Georgia proposed that the
time it should take effect should be
May /, 1916, so as to be effective be-
fore the beginning of the canning sea-
son. The caucus agreed to leave the
matter to be brought up by the ways
and means committee after all the rest
of the tariff bill has been disposed of
in caucus. -.
The overthrow of the immediate free
sugar movement came at the close of
day of arguments, and the amendment
proposing that sugar should become
free with the operation of the new
tariff law, was made by Representa-
tive HardWick, 1t precipitated the real
ftpht nF tho and lost hSr "A u
of 155 to 80.
After the schedule had been assailed
for hours by the proponents of the
sugar planters in Louisiana and the
beet sugar growers. Chairman Under
wood vigorously defended the proposed
rates. In his speech to the caucus he
pleaded strongly for united party in
support of the bill as presented, and
h cmphatically asserted that the
sugar adjustment suggested by Presi-
dent Wilson was a most equitable one.
I'VE will concede," Mr.. Underwood
said, agreeing with some of the op-
ponents of the bill, that immediate
free sugar would put the domestic
planter out of business. But we assert
also that free sugar in three years will
destroy no legitimate industry.
Those who have invested their
money in sugar lands and have planted
crops will have q chance under the
plan of revision to pay their bills and
adjust themselves to new conditions,
Mr.. Broussard complains that Presi-
dent Wilson's request for free sugar
in three years is not equitable. We
say that the presidents course in this
schedule is founded on q most equit-
able basis.
A Party Measure.
This is a party measure, and | be-
lieve that most of my democratic coll
leagues want to see this schedule pass
the house as it came from the commit
tee. Let us keep the party united"
Mr., Underwood argued against the
HardWick immediate free sugar
amendment as well as the amendment
to extend the free sugar time from
three to four years. His speech was
received with loud applause and cries
Of Vote, vote"
Representative Rainey of Illinois ap-
pealed to the caucus to stand by the
democratic administration.
1--WE have been fighting republican
presidents" he warned the democrats,
land we ought not to strike blow at
a democratic president. President
Wilson has announced the provision in
this bill as presented as policy of his