The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-05-06
FREE LIST ON
THE TARIFF BILL
is DISCUSSED
REPUBLICANS ENDEAVOR
TO PLACE SEVERAL AR
TICLES ON THE LIST.
Senate Decides Not to Hold Oral
Hearings on Bill But to
Consider Briefs.

WASHINGTON. ID. C., May 5.-The
free list of the Underwood tariff bill.
with its Democratic promises OF re-
ductions in the cost OF living. furnished
the grist for the legislative mills of
the House to-day. Through a monoto-
nous session the Republicans. wearied
by the persistence with which the
Democrats rejected all amendments.
made perfunctory attempts to place
on the dutiable list articles the Under
wood bill would admit free. There
was little OF a real struggle about the
Republican efforts. however. and only
few minor amendments proposed by
the ways and means committee Demo
Gratis were adopted.
While the House dragged along
through the bill the Senate finance
committee made its plans for the con-
sideration of the bill when II shall
have passed the House.
II was decided not TO hold oral
hearings on the various schedules, but
to accept and consider any briefs that
might be submitted by those interest
ed In the tariff.
The House Republicans attacked
the majority OF the hundred para
graphs in the lengthy free list Of the
Underwood bill. In almost every in
stance they argued that the admission
OF the various articles free would
ruin the industry and would not re-
C'lce the cost of living.
Majority Leader Underwood pointed
out that this argument was inconsist-
| cnt.
In order TO ruin the industries" he
! said. "ss you gentlemen seem hound
to do IL would he necessary 10 reduce
the price the producers receive. This
would inevitably result in reduction
Z" the consumer"
Passed Up Paragraphs.
IN order TO eliminate unnecessary
debate. Representative Underwood. af-
ter the free list had been about half
completed. secured AN agreement 10
pass the paragraphs which were not
! ir controversy without debate. The
] disputed paragraphs were then taken
up IN order.
Republican opposition centercd
about the paragraphs admitting free of
| duty coal iron. ore. cotton. wool.
wheat. -four. corn. buCkwhcat. wood
/ pulp and print paper. meats. lumber
leather. potatoes. works Of art. hSh.
| steel rails har5ed wire and dairy
products. All of the amendments Of
fered were argued in a moro OF less
pcrfunctory fashion. and the swcltcr-
ing majority. forced 80 remain in their
seats tn the hall where the tempcra-
turc scared drowned each Repuhli
B can proposition in delugc 81 "Nocs.
Bibles Stay on Free List.
An unsuccessful effort was made by
/ Representative Moore. of Pennsyl.
yania. 10 have Bibles taken from the
free list He paid tribute 10 the
scriptures. but said he saw no reason
why Bibles Of foreign manufacture
should be admitted free Of duty for
sale IN this country.
Representative stevens. Of Mime
sofa. wanted harness and saddl(y
put on the dutiable list. and Repre-
sentative Gardner. Of Massachusetts.
and others sought 10 Impose duties on
booths and shoe This brought Rep
rcsentative Peters. Of Massachusetts.
~ his feet with a declaration tHat
p free boots anI shoes would place the
American shoe industry on a tettcr
basis than ever before
Rejected Amendment.
~ the night session the Democrats
rejected nm amendment offered by
Representative Good. ~ Iowa. 20 pro.
vide for ante mortem inspection oi
foreign meats
Representative Underwood de-
clarcd the Republicans overlooked a
provision ~ the pure food law requir.
Ing inspection certificate satisfactory
10 the secretary ~ agriculture on all
meat imported n this law had any
loop holes IN A. ne sail. the Demo.
Gratis ould pass one that would absO-
luteiy safeguard American health.