The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-24
ANT|FREE SUGAR
BATTLE BEGINS
Opposition Senators Engage in
Final Effort to Change
Schedule.
ACID TEST BEING APPLIED
Caucus Action Will Be Final and
Binding Pledge Ap-
piled.

Washington, June 23-Democrats
opposed to free sugar enlivcned the
senatorial caucus late to-day. begin
nins their ANAL effort to change the
schedule before the tariff bill reaches
the Senate for general debate West
ern and Louisiana Senator'S were
prined 10 make a titanic fight against
the provision approved and urged by
PRESIDENT Wilson. which provides that
sugar shall be free of duty in 1916.
senators Shafroth, OF Colorado, and
Walsh. OF Montana. took up the con-
test when the schedule was reported
suddenly late in the afternoon. It had
not been expected that the caucus
would reach sugar before tomorrow,
but the metal and wood schedules were
rushed through without much discus
sion, and before . o'clock the decks
were cleared for the first and most
determined party tariff schedule
This will be the acid test for free
sugar To the decision of the caucus
the Democratic Senators will be
pledged, and the prospect is that only
Senators Thornton and Ransdel OF
Louisiana. will be released from tho
binding resolution that is to be adopt
ed. There is a possibility of one other
Senator asking for relief.
Senator Ransdell who is leading the
night on free sugar, hurried from the
caucus room when il was apparent the
sugar schedule would be reached, and
sent "A messenger for Senator New
landss of Nevada He wanted all the
Democrats who do not favor the ad-
ministrative plan present. Senator
Newlands soon arrived, and mmedi-
ately thereafter the first paragraph of
the schedule was read
Senator Shafroth. Of Colorado was
the first speaker. Coming from a beet
sugar State. he made a vigorous plea
for elimination of the provision for
free sugar 10 three years. He sub
mitted many briefs and statistics to
support the claim of the beet sugar
manufacturers that free sugar would
mean the Gripping. if not the death,
OF the industry.
Senator Walsh. OF Montana, who will
make fight against free wool, is
standing by the antifree sugar Sena-
tors in the caucus fight. He followed
Senator Shafroth. and had not con-
Guided when the caucus adjourned un-
til tomorrow
Until sugar was reached the caucus
had been very harmonious Not
change was made in the report of the
majority members OF the Finance Com
mitiee on the wooden manufacturers
schedule The only material change in
this from the Underwood bill. was the
free listing OF cedar boards and other
cabinet woods.
In the metal schedule. there were
foN votes taken on committee amend
mcnts. and in each case the commit
tee was sustained. aluminium in the
crude state was left at . cents a pound,
and IN sheets and plates al 3 IL cents
n pound. The committees increas Sc
from l2 to 3-4 OF cent a pound on
lead ore was sustained as were its
amendments increasing the duty on
zinv ore from 10 TO l2 per cent
ad valorem and zine in pigs
from 10 10 Is per cent, An
effort to put hand saws and other
common tolls on The free list was not
successful. and few small items in
the schedule were referred for later
determination.
Late tomorrow, the majority of the
Finance Committee will complete work
on its revision of tho income tax, and
a statement giving the details of the
changes will be given by Chairman
simmons
The committee tonight received a
petition from a delegation of New
York diamond merchants urging re-
consideration OF its action in turn
ing down proposed reductions in the
diamond rates OF the Underwood bill
After careful consideration of the
claims that the Underwood rates would
encourage and increase smuggling, the
commitree decided not TO change the
rate. IS left BY the committee. uncut
diamonds are made dutiable at 10 per
cent ad valorem, and cut diamonds at
% per cent. The merchants want the
present rates retained. cut diamonds
al 10 per cent and uncut diamonds
free