The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-13
UNDERWOOD AND
WILSON CONF Err ON
THE TARIFF ISSUE
May Not Be Ready to Pre-
Sent New Bills by
April l
MEET DEVELOPMENTS
AS THEY COME UP
Wilson Decides on New Policy for
Extra Session-Hods Number
of Conferences With
the Leaders

OF conferences win
the Leaders
Washington. March 12--President
Wilson has decided upon a policy Of
meeting legislative developments as
they arise rather than planning pro-
of Congress. This, it was learned from
White House callers today will be the
Presidents answer to those who are
urging that currency legislation, Phil
ippine independence, Alaskan questions,
and other subjects, be taken up during
the session of the new Congress.
The, President was advised by Repre-
sentative Oscar Underwood, the DEM
ocratic majority leader as to the status
of the tariff bills being prepared by
the ways and means Committee. lie
learned that the committee was making
rapid progress, but that 1t might not
be ready on April /, the date originally
fixed for the opening of the new Con-
gress. Mr.. Underwood thought at least
a week more should be given to prepar-
alton and it was on Mr.. Underwood's
advice that Mr.. Wilson fixed upon
April /, there is no doubt that he will
name a later date when issuing his
proclamation
Underwood Favors Tariff Alone
Representative Underwood has been
of the belief that tariff reform alone
should be attempted at the coming ses-
sion. AS he left the White House, Rep
resentative Jones of Virginia. who IS
championing the cause of Philippine
independence, met him and sought to
impress upon him the necessity of some
action on that question during the ex-
ira session. Mr. Jones secured an ap-
pointment with the President for Fri
day. when he Will further urge Phillip
pine legislation.
The net result of pressure for action
on subjects other than tariff has been
the adoption of a policy of meeting
the legislative situation as it uafolds
in the new. Congress- The p sla4saa
viii send first a message. pointing out
the necessity for tariff revision and
will follow this with a series of mes
sages upon specific things which he be-
lieves Congress may be able to act upon
without unnecessarily prolonging the
session. This course Is said to have
been approved at today's cabinet meet
ling.
The suggestion that only tariff re-
vision be attempted at the coming ses-
lsion arose from the fear that other
subjects might cloud and interfere with
the tariff question. Assurances have
been coming, however, from various
quarters, principally the Senate, that
the anticipated difficulty with the tar
Iiff may not materialize after all. The
REORGANIZATION of the Senate, with
control of the committees in the hands
of senators who are in close sympa-
thy with the administration. is said to
be one of the circumstances from
which the conclusion has been drawn
that the tariff as well as other ques-
tions may be disposed of without great
difficulty
Day of Many Callers
1t was a day of many callers for the
President, and while most of them were
members of Congress ceing consulted
about patronage questions, some talked
Legislative policies and others came
merely to pay their respects Among
these was "Uncle Joe" Cannon, former
speaker of the House, who said good
bye to the President before departing
Ito his home in Danville, ILL., With his
lcigar conspiculously displayed in man
ner familiar to official Washington,
the former speaker stood on the steps
of the executive offices talking to the
correspondents who had asked him the
purpose of his visit
Il came to say goodbye to the Presi-
dent and wish him wel,' he said He's
my President as well as anybody else's,
you know"
The President saw number of visitors
in the east room, among them Solicitor
General Bullitt and Samuel Untermyer
counsel for the money trust investigat-
| ing committees but the visits were social
| in chara cter. For a short time during
tie afternoon the President worked On
his correspondence, but he soon was out
doors enjoying the spring weather The
President spied some magnolas in bios
som, observed the growing verdure of
the white house and swung into a brisk
" ak along Potomac drive. Only secret
service man accompanied him and le
attracted practically no attention as he
strolled the parkways.
The President returned to the white
house at 8 o'clock, where with Mrs Will
son and their daughters he met tho
Diplomatic corps and their wives at tea
Olney Considering Appointment
It was reiterated at the white house
unoffcally that George W. Guthrie
democratic Sldle chairman Tor PennSy1-
vania and a former mayor of Pittsburgh,
was q likely appolntee for a diplomatic
post IT was said that word from Rich
ard Olrey as to whether he would accent
the ambassadorship to Great Britain was
rot expected for several days.
1t was understood that he was giving
the appointment careful consideration.
Senator Osterman of North Carolina pre-
sneted to the President the name Of
Whitehead I<lutts of Salisbury for ap-
pointment as amba ssador to Brazil
President Wilson is giving careful con-
sideration to the appointment of col
lector Of customs for the port of New
York. Dudley Field Malone. a son-in-
law of Senator OGorman. has been un-
der consideration for some time and II
was said that If Mr. Malone were not
appointed, he would be offered a posi-
tion of equal importance
No comment was made at the white
house on the frequent mention Of the
name Of John Pnrroy Mitchell for the
collectcrship. Mr.. Mitchell however h
said to be acceptable to Senator O'Gor-
man of New York. That former Senator
Gardner of Maine and former Governor
Burke of North Dakota might have
posts, was learned at the white house,
hut il was not said just what positions
they would be offered
Though the cabinet was in sessi ,n
over two hours no statements as to the
ssIbiects discussed was issued The score