The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-14
WILSON POSITIVE
Believes Tariff Bill Will Meet
General Approval.
Consumer VIII Feel Benefit of
Sugar Duty.
FEARS ARE NOT JUSTIFIED
President Does Not Believe In
duStries Will Suffer.
Leaders Begin Second Week of
New Schedule.
Chairman Underwood Ordered
to Bed Account of Illness.

Washington, April 14-President Will
son believes the tariff bill meets the
general approval of the country; that
no healthy business will be interrupted
and that although in most cases the
cost of living will not be Immediately
reduced, the consumer will feel at once
the benefit of a reduction in the sugar
duty.
These veiews were expressed today by
the president in an open talk Win
newspaper men at the White House.
He explained his main reason for de-
string a reduction sugar was that
the consumer deserved it.
The president declared arrangements
by which prices were fixed would sure
lv he made impossible when a truly
competitive situation was created, ana
that the public would get the benent
very promptly in the case OF sugar
because he knew competitive elements
We're ready to contest.
Criticisms, he said, had been rece1V-
ed from some perfectly legitimate in
terests contending that the cuts IN
their cases were more than they could
at present stand. Mr.. Wilson SAID ne
did not see any ruinous cuts In the
bill. He referred to the fact that
members of the ways and means COM
mittee had heard every person in in
terest, and that their judgments were
based on those hearings. 1t was sug-
gested to the president that many ONO
Democrats in congress felt that 1ree
wool would be ruinous to the WOODEN
industry.
Facts Not to Be Found.
Mr. Wilson said he had been trying
to inform himself as much as possible
on that subject but he did not feel
their fears were justified by facts. de
remarked he had heard just the other
day that the price of wool was the |
same on both sides or the water -
In connection with the sugar tarlH
the president was asked if he thought |
sugar factories, both beet ana cane
could operate under free sugar. He
said he certainly thought they coulo'
with a smile that the factor-
les might shut down for effect for a
time but that they would open 1or
business later.
The president said he hoped to open
reciprocity negotiations with various
countries as soon as the tariff bill was
passed.
Leaders Still in Control.
With most of the strong adminis-
tration leaders still in control of the
situation. house Democrats today be-
gan the second week of consideration
of the new tariff bill in caucus HaV-
ing withstood the test of vigorous op-
position to the sugar schedule Satur-
day, the prospect was today that no
Material changes proposed to the bill
could get enough support to be eff
fective not excepting free raw wool,
against which definite opposition
has developed. Consideration of the
wool question probably will not De
reached for several days.
The market basket" attracted at
tention of the legislators today, the
agricultural schedule having been
reached. Wheat and citrus fruits were
particular targets for some OF the
ng states. Flour has been placed on
he free list in the administration bill,
while a duty of ten per cent ad va
orem is left on wheat.
Representative from milling states
,laim that is a discrimination against
he millers and they propose to make {
| fight either to put wheat on the free r
ist or to place compensating duty l
IN flour. Opposition developed also !
o the free listing Of potatoes. The /
enate finance committee, which re- I
umed consideration of the bill, also '
lad the same question before it, some Z
enators proposing to place a duty
# SO cents a barrel on flour on the =
,asis of five bushels of wheat to the :
,arrel
Harrison Is in Charge. r
Chairman Underwood's friends were {
Inclined to minimize his illness, say {
ng he surely would be back at his '
lesk after a few days. Politically, his c
enforced absence from the Democrat $
where as chairman of the I
ways and means committee and lead
n of the house Democrats standing ,
behind the administration tariff bill, f
vas considered of such Importance
hat it could not be dismissed lightly.
To-day Representative Francis Burton
Harrison of New York, one of Mr..
ind rwood'S closest lieutenantS and
,taunch supporter of the administra-
ion took charge at the caucus and the L
work went on. There is strong fight
IN in the house against the admins
ration sugar and wool program.
1t is conceded on every side that the I
lbsence of Mr.. Underwood. gives cour- 6
age to the forces opposing the propos- {
lis favored by President Wilson.
Underwood Ordered to Bed.
Washington, April 14.-Chairman {
of the ways and means
committee was ordered to bed today t
" his physicians, who declared he
lad a slight fever and was in danger
# a breakdown from hard work on
he tariff bill He may be confined
or several days. His illness, however |
lid not interfere wit hthe house eau t
us today, which will. work on. I
At Last Wind Stops Blowing.
For the first time since April the $
are above normal-two de- +