The Washington herald., 1913-05-10
TILT in SENATE
ON TARIFF BILL.
Thomas Reads Anonymous
Communicated Charging
Coercion Of Employees.
SMITH MAKES HOT REPLY
Penrose Moves that Hearings Be
Granted by Committee 10 Manu-.
facturers Who So Desire.

r
The session of the Senate yesterday
afternoon was enlivened by a sharp par
tisan debate on the tariff. Senator
Thomas of Colorado precipitated the dis
cussion by reading a communication pub
lished in Detroit newspaper and
signed anonymously, charging that EN-
ployers were coercing their employees to
sign protests against the tariff bill. Sem
ator Thomas commented unfavorably on
such action. He told how he had lis
tened patiently to employers who came
from Troy, N Y. The Senator claimed
that he had reports that manufacturers
were resorting to all forms of coercion
to influence sentiment against the tariff
BILL Business had been sent away to
other factories and brutal and ruth
less reduction of wages had been made
by industries. the products of which car
ried duties that not only protected, but
prohibited competition.
The Senator from Colorado declared
that, as a member of the Finance Com
mittee, he was prepared to put upon the
free list the products of industries, the
proprietors Of which practiced such
methods Senator Thomas, in referring
to the demand of the sugar beet growers
for a restoration of the duty on sugar.
asserted that laborers In the beet sugar
fields of Colorado receive but % cents
day. The Senator declared That he did
not propose to heed the demand for pub
lie hearings or to vote for any motion
that would delay the passage Of the tar
if bill.
Senator Works expressed establishment
at what Senator Thomas has said about
the small wages paid by beet growers
in Colorado.
IF Colorado is paying such wages, 1t
ought to be annexed to Cuba" observed
Mr.. Works.
Smith starts Fireworks.
The real fireworks of the debate were
set off by Senator William Alden Smith
of Michigan While Senator Thomas
was reading the communication which
started the debate the tariff bill was
received from the House. AS soon as
Mr. Thomas concluded Senator Simmons,
chairman of the Finance Committee,
moved to refer the bill to that commit
tee. Immediately Senator Penrose, rep
resenting the Republicans. moved to re-
fer, but with instructions to the COM
mttee to grant public hearings to in
dustres that might be desirious of be-
ing heard. Senator Smith took the floor
on the pending motion, and charged
Senator Thomas with ''brazen effrontery"
in making the statements he had about
coercion by manufacturers and other en-
ployers.
Public Hearings Possible.
Senator Smith read the statement made
by Chairman Underwood Thursday, in
which Mr.. Underwood warned the Re-
publicans that the Department of Com
merce would investigate every case where
manufacturer reduced wages. lIr.
Smith declared that it would be an
edifying spectacle presented by the De-
partment of Commerce chasing business
men from one end of the country to the
other.
He commented on the visits of the
President to the Capitol to influence SEN
timent.
Notwithstanding he had the moose
ready in his pocket to adjust to the
neck of any man who curtailed business.
the fact remains that business has been
curtailed by the threat of this tariff
bill until orders are now only about one
half what they were before" he said
Senator Smith was cut short in his
remarks at o'clock by the expiration OF
1.-The morning hour.
The question of whether public hear
ings shall be accorded went over until
the Senate meets again next Tuesday
afternoon. Meanwhile the tariff bill is
suspended in the Senate. An order was
made today for the printing of 1000
copies, which will be ready tomorrow.
The subcommittee will go to work with
renewed effort, and it is possible that a
Democratic conference will be held Mon
day.
1t looked for time today as if the
Republican demand for public hearings
would be successful. Several Democratic
Sena tors believe there should be hear
ings. 1t is known that five or six of
them were prepared today to vote for
hearings. Among them were the two
Louisiana Senators. Senator Shepard of
Texas, Senator Lewis OF Illinois, and
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey. The
Democratic leaders are exerting pressure
on these Senators to get them back into
line before Tuesday. Senator MARITIME
said last night that while he did not be-
lieve that the hearings would change the
sentiment of the Senate in any way, fail
ure to accord them would undoubtedly
subject the Democrats to criticism, and
that, personally, he believed a reasonable
time should be allowed for the hearings.
Return of Ransom Money Asked.