Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-07
President is to Decide
Whether Action is to
be by Schedules.
OPPOSITION IS FOUND
Free Wool and Sugar Combine
0rganizing-CongreSS Be-
gins Business at Noon..

Washington, D. c., April THE
Sixty-third congress, the first in many
years with followers of Thomas JEFF
ferson in majority, began business at
noon. Just as Speaker Clark was
dropping the gavel in the house Lead
er Underwood dropped the tariff rev.
sion bill into the hopper, thereby Of,
, fcially starting business hat promises
70 keep congress at work well into
August.
While Legislators were finding seats
a procession Of women suffragists in
vaded the capitol and presented petit
tions demanding a constitutional
amendment for equal suffrage In the
house the days proceedings were
principally on organization
/ The reelection Of Speaker Clark was
the first business after about one hun
died new members were sworn in.
Most of the new senators, however,
/ were sworn in Inauguration day.
Vice President Marshall called the
senate to order and administered the
oath to Sherman of Illinois and Goff
OF West Virginia
Republicans had nominated Mann for
speaker and the progressives Murdock.
with a full ticket for officers of the
house. Clark's reelection, however,
was assured. Progressives were rec
ognized by the assignment of Murdock
TO the ways and means committee and
Chandler to the rules committee.
Clark was reelected speaker. He re-
ceiyed III; Mann, republican. III;
I Murdock, progressive, IS. Four pro-
gressive republicans voted for Cooper
of Wisconsin. Cooper voted for Mel
son of Minnesota.
PRESIDENT ON FENCE.
/ President Wilson said today he was "on
the fence" as to whether the tariff should
be revised schedule by schedule or in
a single bill. Seven democratic men,
bers of the senate finance committee
argued unanimously with the presi-
dent for schedule by schedule revision.
but at its conclusion the president
said he would still further consider
the matter before reaching a decision.
The president had fairly made up
his mind that the single bill idea
would be more effective and believed
such measure could pass He told
the senators he did not think any of
the senators voting against the bill
would venture to bear the burden of
responsibility for defeating the party
program.
LOUISIANA OPPOSITION.
1t was suggested that the Louisiana
senators would oppose the bill, but the
president figured the measure still
would have enough votes to pass. The
senators went away with the impress
sion that while the president was still
open to conviction, he was inclined
somewhat to a single tariff bill The
entire question must be decided, as
, far as the president is concerned, be-
. fore the democratic caucus meets to-
morrow. The president said he would
, be in favor of an open caucus.
President Wilson early today met
Senators Simmons, Shiveley, Hughes,
James, Stone, Williams and Gore, all
democratic members of the senate f.
nance committee, in an effort to reach
a final agreement upon disputed points
in the new tariff bill.
SEEKS UNDERSTANDING.
The president is anxious to reach a
general understanding with senate
leaders, if possible, upon support for
, the free wool and reduced sugar tar
in provisions. The method of revi-
sion, whether in a single bill, or q ser
les of schedule bills, was also in doubt
when the conference begun.
AS a result of the conference Will
son again agreed TO confer with Tn
derwood. Members OF the senate fl
, nance committee expressed d belief
, that at least the sugar and wood sched-
> ules would be put in separate bills
to prevent a possible combination 0!
q sugar and wood senators" against
q the entire tariff measure.
a Removal of all tariff from many ar
4 ticles OF food and clothing, broad re
n duction Of duty on all necessities oi
q life; increase Of tariff on many luxur
a les and a new income tax that viii
+ touch the pocket OF every American
: citizen whose net income exceeds 81,
y 600. are striking features of the new
democratic tariff revision bill present
= ed today 10 the house.
4 On sugar the bill proposes an imme
g date % per cent reduction and re
q moval Of the remaining duty in 1916.
e ON THE FREE LIST.
e Raw wool would be made free a
+ once. with 2 correspondent heavy re
i duction in the tariff on all wooler
goods. The following are put Oh tht