Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-05
Washimnggtoonn a
Y Y LETTER
BY H. B. WALKER
Sta ata9 ro..oanondant
TARIFF DEBATE LIsTLEss
star stan Correspondent.
Star Bureau,
Metropolitan National Bank Bldg.


WASHINGTON, May 5.
With the passing of the tariff bill
to the Senate there promises to be a
renewal of interest in the debate on
the proposed new schedules which has
been lacking in the House considera-
ton. Considering the Importance of
the subject, the whole debate in the
lower body of Congress has been re-
markable mainly for it's listlessness
With all the details previously ar
ranged and an overwhelming major
ity of the members bound by secret
party caucus to vote for the measure
without change, and the minority di-
vided in its grounds of opposition, the
whole performance of the last two
weeks since the Underwood bill was
introduced in the House, has been
about as prosy, cut-and-dried and I'M
interesting procedure as has been
witnessed in the capitol in many
years.
Aside from the plea by Progressive
leaders for taking the whole tariff
subject out of politics and having the
rates fixed on a difference in cost of
production, determined by scientific
commission, the opposition to the
measure has been without definite
program or purpose. Sitting back
languidly, the Republicans have re-
fused to even suggest different pro-
gram, contented themselves with de-
livery of some very ancient argu-
ments for high tariff and stuffed
their hopes with the asserted belief
I, 10. ri II &C
hard the voters will put them back
pinto power.
Made Amateurish Flourishes.
Leaving out the amateurish -four
ishes and personalities which have
characterized some of the Democratic
speeches, they have been, in the main,
disappointing in their defense of the
proposed rates. They have dealt with
theories rather than facts. Embar-
raised by having to explain their
sudden face-about on wool, sugar and
few other items dictated by the
President, the House majority lead
ers have resorted to oratory rather
than argument to strengthen their
cause.
Probably the most notable features
of the debate have been the Pro-
gressives' arguments for tariff COM
mission, and the semi-apologies for
the protective features of the Under
wood bill contained in speeches by
Warren Worth Bailey and other I'M
dismayed and undlsgulsed Tree TRAD
ers Forced to accept the new phrase,
Competitive tariff" as a substitute
for the former Democratic ideal OF
revenue tariff, the party leaders
themselves, even Underwood and Pal
mer, have been rather at sea, and ap-
parently somewhat confused as to
just what the new policy really does
mean.
1t is probably not exaggeration TO
say there are not dozen members
on the floor of the House, of any
party, who are entirely satisfied with
the Underwood bill. Realizing TINS
all the Democrats agreed to be bound
by caucus for its passage without
change or alteration, IN the knoWi-
edge that If they began trying &c
change it the result would be chaotic
Denounced "Robber Trusts"
While the Democratic speeches have
heen full of denunciations of the rob-
her nroctective tariff and the trusts,
and have assumed that reduction of
tho ratas will reduce cost of commodi-
ties ard living. there has been a note
of nessimism even in the speeches of
tho leaders
In tha Senate. the fate of the meas
,,ra ie nv no means as certain as its
friends would have il appear. First,
n will he referred to the finance COM
mittaa and efforts will be renewed
RI bava hearings given. This will not
ha done The committee will take
nroba h1v two weeks to go over the
buI hafora renorting If to the Senate.
As ~ Tho House the bill will be con-
sidarad in secret session by the Demo
ora lie members. of the committee. II
The Renublicans plan making a mi
nor,tv ranort thew will hold their own
sess,ons when the Democratic mem
hars ~ the finance committee have
aoreed on a report they will try to