The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-09
His Personal Touch With Con-
gress Causes Sensation.
TO MEET COMMITTEE TODAY
Tariff May Be Cut in Sections
for Separate Vote.
This Will Split Opposition on
Wool and Sugar Rates.
Wilson's Plan if He Is Defeated
i'm New Reform.

Washington, April 9.-President
Wilson announced early today that
he would meet the Democratic mem
bers of the finance committee in the
presidents room at the capitol at
o'clock this afternoon to talk ABOUT
the tariff.
Although it had been unofficlally
announced before President Wllsoh
took office that he expected to go TO
the presidents room at the capItoI a.
frequent intervals to be in close touCl
with congress the news that he Wouid
make the first visit today, so closely
after the notable scene yesterday
when the president read his message
personally to a joint assembly IN Jhe
hall of the house, set otflclaI clrcieS
by the ears.
The president sent word early today
bv Secretary Tumulty to the members
of the committee that he would IKE
to meet them at p. M the pivot oi
tariff reform, it is generally recoS-
nized will be the senate where the
Democrat margin is small and Where
opposition to certain scheduleS al
ready is apparent. When Mr. WlIsoh
last discussed with the senate Demo
Gratis of the finance committee the
method of tariff reform they argued
as a unit for splitting the bin INTO
separate schedules, assuring MIN that
wider ranges focused on each schedute
and that disagreements among SEN
ators might be eliminated
Wilson Anxious for Peace.
Mr. Wilson is anxious that unanim-
Ity of opinion should prevail ne
tween the two houses, and has d.
clared that the arguments advanced
by both sides were good.
The presidents first tendency was
to favor a single measure, but since
the main feature of the bill became
known there has been evidence of op-
position from senators who oppose
free wool and who object to the re-
n1ovaI of all duty on sugar in three
years.
The president is said to feel that
more progress can be made by visit
to the capitol, where he can confer
with the Democrat members OF the
senate finance committee and where
the latter can quickly get in touch
with senators at present reluctant to
favor the bill.
Believes in Intimate Debate.
Mr.. Wilson firmly believes in init
mate debate in matters of legislation
not only as a time saver, but as
means of averting misunderstanding
that might come by having the ad-
ministrations views transmitted indi-
rectly.
method of obtaining legislation is that
ms a leader of the party that elected
him he can be a counsellor and ad-
wiser. While he never has suggested
that the executive in either the state
in the processes of legislation he al |
ways has maintained that the voice of
the party leaders should be heard in |
party councils
Intimations have come from the
White House that the president if de- |
feated in the present session on the is |
sue of tariff reform will go before the |
people of those states whose repre- |
sentatives in both houses of congress |
have thwarted the party program and
To-, ,-ir1 ,oY~iee Gov h.
tion of what he believes to be progress
sive candidates.
Caucus of Democrats Today.
Washington, April 9.-House Demo- |
Gratis caucused again today on the tar /
iff bill after the majority of the ways I
and means committee had met to form |
ulate a tariff program. The house it |
self had adjourned until tomorrow to |
give full day for the majority to !
map out the lines for the work ahead |
The caucus will be succeeded by 9th |
ers. one each dFy for several days am
ell will be secret. A fight. backed with /
the moral support of President Wilson |
for an open caucus was lost last !
night.
The house may be influenced by the |
senate on the question of dividing the !
bill into schedules for passage
Some Democratic senators favor this /
so that separate votes may be had on |
the sugar and wool propositions Other |
Democrat senators believe that the ef- /
feet of schedule by schedule revision
already has been lost by the introduce |
ton of the bill as a whole. Another
proposal was to group the schedule
and divide the bill into four measures.
Some of these questions the caucus
took up when it met today.
Presidents Action Commended.
The president expected to leave the
White House at 2:30, devoting the re-
mafnder OF the afternoon if necessary
to the conference at the capitoi /
President Wilson's visit to the canitoI |
was explained by members of tba |
finance committee to be a continue
ton of the conference begun Mondav
at the White House. Members of +be
committee desired further onnoro
tunity to present their views of
changes needed in the tariff hill ss-rloa |
Democrats of the finance connpoi++ae /
asked for conference with the nrasi
dent and we met him at the Vbfto
House Monday morning" said Se1s
tor Hoke Smith. That conference
adjourned to meet again Now tbe
president renews the conference srS
instead of requiring the nine Dar,n 60
Gratis of the finance conomi++e
come to him, he has come to tbe,,, :,
Other memDers commended the actiop
of the president in arrangino 70 ,,oNnt
the flnance committee at a point r1ore
convenient TO senators. Many chaneaS
in the Underwood measure adyocaSS
by Democrat senators will he n15
upon the president for furtbar eoosu ~
sideration at the meeting. TbeSo I'm u;