The Washington times., 1913-04-14
UNDERWOOD IS ILL.,,
CAUCUS CONTINUES
Agricultural Products Subject
of Party Council, and Likely
Will Pass Muster.

With the chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee absent because Of i'll
ness, the Democrats of the House re-
sumed their tariff caucus at 80 O'Clock
this afternoon. Schedule G, affecting
agricultural products and containing
long free list Is the subject of the party
council today, and, despite the opposi-
tion of Democrats from the agricultural
sections of the Middle West the commit
tee bill is expected to pass muster.
Congressman Underwood, whose elo-
quent plea of Saturday prevented the
caucus from slapping the President in
the face by free listing sugar, is not
on hand this afternoon to defend the
agricultural schedule. This burden will
other members Of the Ways and Means
Committee. who will rally the faithful to
the defense of the committee and the
President il the opposition grows for
rridable.
The House remained in session but
thirty-five minutes today and trans
acted only routine business. In the
absence of Mr.. Underwood, who is
suffering from grippe and break
down from overwork, Mr.. Harrison
acted a ma jority floor leader.
The House adjourned until Thurs
day, and Democratic leaders hope that
the caucus will have completed its
consideration of the tariff bill by that
date.
President Wilson is gratifed by the
general reception of the tariff and in
come tax measures. The public gener-
ally is pleased with the terms written
into the Underwood bill, according to
President Wilson's belief as expressed
today.
OF course there are unfriendly inter-
ests who are protesting against the bill"
declared the President today, but | be-
lieve that the people of the country are
favorable generally
The President admitted that, except in
the case of sugar, he did not fOreSee an
immediate reduction in the cost OF living
as a result of the enactment Of the Tn
derwood bill provisions. but he declared
that the bill is step toward breaking
down the artifiCiality surrounding bust
ness methods of today. The ultimate ef-
feet will he a reduction Of the cost OF
living, declares President Wilson.
No business depression will follow the
passage of the new tariff. This is Pres
iGent Wilson's confident prediction. He
charges that some plants may close
down for effect. hut the country will not
go through a panic.
An adjustment Of the sugar business
both cane and heet-can he made even
in the face of the free tariff rates i'm
thinks the President Likewise. accord
ing to his best judgment. the free wool
provision viii not have a ruinous ef-
feet on tn" country nor on any of the
wool growers.
The President has been deIvinE closely
into all available books and Information
on the subject of wool and woo!ens and
has reached III" conclusion that there
cannot be the i'll effects that some mem
bers OF Congress are dOlefuly predict
inC.
ON the subject of the income tax
rrcsid"n. WilS0" bas not received as
much comment as on the tariff hill. hut
taken al in all he believes this is meet
iC., with approval
Smurcs opposed To- &. revision of the
tar Z hav" admitted 10 President WI
son that tn" tariff bill - more favor
abic than had been anticipated Also
, from rnair other quarters come aSsur-
aI,"s th"t there is genuine objection
, to tn" n,W rates.
Some lc2it:rIatn business interests arc
protesting To the President but h. inGi-
ca,od that the hurI"m of the nnDnsi-
ton comes FRI mintcr"sts which have
manipulated their business through
channels that are not strictly according
to Vhe WiSUnian standards