New-York tribune., 1913-06-27
SMITH WANTS TARIFF
BIG STICK FOR WILSON
FavorS Enforcing CountervalI-
ing Rates Against Nations
Refusing Reciprocity.
AMENDMENT CALLED WEAK
Georgia Senator's Proposal
Stirs Up Spirited Debate and
Opposition from o'Gorman'
Reed and MARITIME.

Washington. June 26.-Urgent desire TO
arm the President with a tariff dig
stick"-one Of stronger and greater pro-
portions than provided in the amendment
suggested by the Finance Committee ma
iority-developed to-day in the Demo
cratic caucus of the Senate on the tarir
bill.
Discussion of the proposed countervail-
ing duty on wheat and -four, which the
committee recommended. led to general
debate on retahatory and countervailing
tariff rates. and Senator Hoke Smith, OF
Georgia, urgently proposed the adoption
Of an amendment that would give the
President power to enforce countervaillng
tariff rates on all commodities OF com
merce against any nation refusing to deal
with the United States on reciprocal
tariff basis.
The amendment proposed would in
many respects take the place Of the maxi
mum and minimum clause of the Payne
Aldrtch tariff law, but Senator Smith ad-
yocated a provision that would be broader
than that,-one that would give the Presi-
dent the authority at any time to inter
crtrninate against the products of the
United States the same tariff rates exact
ed on American goods, Such clause IN
the tariff bill, it was,argued. would place
the United States ina position to defend
the country against aly unreciprocai
action or attempt to shut Off its foreign
trade.
Discussion Of the proposal was spirited
strong opposition developing at once
Among the Senators who ATTACKED the
idea were O'Gorman, Reed and MARITIME.
Debate was waxing warm when the caIl-
Gus was forced 10 recess for the after
noon session Of the Senate. and II was
resumed tonight. The amendment rec
commended by the committee is not
countervai!ing proposition in the strict
sense. providing only that the President
should proclaim certain fixed rates
against foreign nations on limited num-
Der Of specified commodities in cases OF
discrimination against this country. This
Senator Smith and others did not regard
as comprehensive enough.
After the battle over free sugar and
free wool had been won yesterday by the
administration forces, Senator's opposed
TO the schedules approved renewed their
activities for an amendment which would
extend the time when the sugar and wool
schedules are to become effective after
the passage Of the act. Senator Ransdell
has an amendment 10 extend the date Of
the sugar schedule until February l. 1914,
permitting sugar planters and rehners TO
get rid OF this years crop without the
burden Of the decreased tariff. This has
been referred to the majority Of the FL
nance Committee for consideration. The
committee will recommend some form Of
amendment later 10 the caucus.
other suggestions propose to suspend
the operation Of the sugar duties for three
months after the passage Of the bill, and
that the rates on manufactures Of wool
be made effective ninety days and the
free raw wool provision sixty days after
enactment Of the law.
At an evening session Of the caucus no
vote was taken on cOuntervailing duties
as to wheat or -four or as to general
amendment Resolutions were adopted 10
have daily caucus consideration of the
bill, and by this means II is hoped 10 get
the measure before the Senate next week.
At a meeting late tonight of the ma
jority members Of the Finance Commit
tee no agreement was reached as to the
time for making the sugar and wool
schedules effective
Durng the discussion to-day we'll de-
fined movement developed TO put all table
products on the free list. Butter, cents
a pound in the Underwood bill, was cut
\ by the Senate Finance majority TO 2ls
cents. The caucus ratified that, but later
Y brought II up. and several Senators urged
that It be put on the free list. Various
Senator's proposed to also put all bread
stuffs. cheese. beans. beets, peas and
other vegetables on the free list.