Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-06-24
Shafroth of Colorado, Opens
Debate for Opposition to
Free Trade Within Three
Years Proposed in Bill
WOOL INTERESTS WILL
STAND BY BEET MEN
Diamond Importers Make Los
ing Contest for Lower Du-
ties on Gems, Alleging In
crease of Smuggling,

tsS uorkNo iourss, SPECIAL lsssso WISH
Washington, June 23.--Domooratic
senators opposed To free sugar en-
livcned the senatorial caucus late to-
day, beginning their final effort to
change the schedule before the tariff
bin reaches the senate for general de-
bate. Wcstern and Louisiana senators
were primed TO make a fight against
the provision 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 reached
late in the afternoon. II had not been
expected that the caucus would reach
sugar before tomorrow hnt the metal
and wood schedules were rushed
through without much discussion and
before O'Clock the decks were clear
ed for the first and most determined
internecino party tariff struggle. This
Will be the acid test for free sugar.
70 the decision of the caucus the
democratic senators will be pledged
and the prospect rs that only Senator'S
Thornton and Ransdell, Of louisiana
will be released in the binding resolu-
tion that is to hc adopted. There is
"a possibility of one other senator ask
ing for release.
Senator Ransdell, who is leading
the fight ON free sugar hurried from
the caucus room when it was appar-
ent that the sugar schedule would he
reached aud sent a messenger fer
senator Newlands, Of Nevada. lie
wanted an the democrats who do not
favor the administration plan pres
ent senator Newlands soon arrived
and immediately thereafter the first
paragraph Of the schedule was read.
Senator Shafroth, of Colorado, was
the first speaker Coming from .
beet sugar state. hc made vigorous
plea for elimination OF the provision
fer free sugar in three years. lie
substituted many briefs and statistics
to support the claim of the beet sugar
manufacturers that free sugar wonid
mean tho erippling II mol the death
Of the industry
senator Walsh, of Montana, who
also will make "a fight against free
wool, is standing by the anti-iree
sugar senators in the caucus fight
lie followed Senator shafroth and
had not concluded when the caucus
adjourned until tomorrow.
Until sugar was reached, the cau-
Gus had been very harmonious. Not
a change was made in the report 81
the majority members of tho finance
committee on the wood and wooden
manufactures schedule. Tho only ma
terial change in this from the Under
wood bill was the free-lsting of cedar
boards and other cabinet woods
In the metal schedule there were
four votes taken on committee amend
mcnts and in each case the commit-
tee was sustained Aluminium in the
crude state was left at two cents per
pound and in sheets and plates at
three and half cents per pound The
committees increase from one-half
to oe-fourths of cent per pound
on lead ore was sustained, as werS
its amendments increasing the duty
on zine ore from 10 TO . per cent al
valorem and zinc in PIGS from 0 to
Is per cent An effort to put hand
saws and other common tools on the
free list was not successful and a
few TENS in the schedule were re-
ferred for later determination.
Late tomorrow the majority Of the
finance committee will complete work
on its revision Of the income tax and
a statement giving the details Of the
changes will be given by Chairman
Simmons.
The committee received tonight a
petition from a delegation of New
York diamond merchants, urging re-
consideration of its action in turning
down proposed reductions in the dia
mond rates of the Underwood nill
After careful consideration Of the
claims that the Underwood rates
would encourage and increase Snug
Cling the committee decided not to
change the rates. AS left by the
committee uncut diamonds are made
dutiable at 10 per cent ad Yaoreni
and cut diamonds lit 20 per cent. The
merchants want the present rates re-
tanned, cut diamonds at 10 per cent
and uncut diamonds free.