New-York tribune., 1913-05-14
sFNA1E DEMOCRATS
SCURRY TO COVER
,cain Unable to Make Any
's prouress in the SkirmiSh Over
Their Tariff Bill.
GALL FOR ANOTHER DELAY
president Standing Pat on
Measure as 1t Passed the
pouse-Customs Receipts
Beginning to Decline.
IRON Tho tribune Bureau J

From The Tribune Bureau
rr.ebington. May 13.-After short
,,rnisb with the Republicans. the
n.mocrats Of the Senate to-day scurried
coyer agaIu. leaving the Wilson-Un-
..ruood tariff bin where it was the day
i. va reported from the House Senator
lemons renewed his motion 10 refer the
I'M 10 the Finance Committee, and Sena-
- psnrose renewed his motion 10 IL
..,,ct the committee to hold public hear
mgs
Near the close Of the days debate
senator La Toilette put a further obsta-
els in the way Of the Democratic leaders
Nv altering as an amendment to the mo-
,o, list Of sixteen questions for the
committee 10 put TO all manufacturers
vbo come TO protest against the bill.
The Republicans Immediately arrayed
themselves behind the La Toilette amend
rsnt. and the Democrats. apparently still
uncertain Of their course. brought the
skiroish 10 an end with a demand for
an executive session. which had the effect
~ nostponing action on the question Of
hearings and clearing the galleries which
we're filled with interested observers
n the discontinue Of the Democratic
leaders.
The list of questions which Senator
Ia Toilette proposed should be asked Of
n-otesting manufacturers called for in
formation as TO the nature and use Of the
commodities they produced the raw ma
tsrials used. the amount of production
and consumption in this country the
number Of concerns and the principal pro-
ducers. II also called for the ruling mar
ket prices OF the commodities in this and
competing countries: the total cost OF pro-
duction per unit Of products in this
and competing countries; the percentage
of the labor cost 70 the total cost Of the
INIT OF product here and abroad the cost
Of transportation to the principal markets
IN this country from the principal points
Of production I'm all countries: what part
Of the existing duty represents the diff
ference IN the cost Of production between
this and competing foreign countries. and
what part represents the profit Of the
American manufacturer.
Thomas Corrects Mistakes.
Senator Thomas began the days debate
,v correcting statements he had made at
Inc last session. He presented a letter
rom tine United Shirt and Collar Com
,suv. of Troy. n y. denying the
,nonvmous charges he had read, alleg-
ne that employees had been coerced by
hreats Of a reduction in wages to sign
protest against the reduction Of the
arn on shirts and collars. He also ad-
1itted that he had made a misstatement
q saying that wages in the beet fields OF
'olorado were % cents day.
Senator Smith. Of Michigan. asked the
Democrats if they did not think it would
be- advisable 10 secure further informa-
ion on the tariff bin if one Of the mem
,ers of the Finance Committee knew so
little concerning the wages paid in the
sugar beet industry even in his own
state
The President" said Senator Smith.
has repeatedly stated that no legitimate
would be disturbed. Does the
present administration regard the wool
and sugar industries as illegitimate?'
Senator Simmons. who was defending
the Democratic course on the ground
that an the information necessary had
been obtained I'm previous hearings re-
fused 10 yield further "I yielded for a
question" he retorted, mot for vol
eanic outburst on the tariff. "
Like the lnquisition.
Senator Penrose lkened the secret
csucss on the tariff bill 10 the methods
o. the Spanish inquisition.' and brought
laughter from both sides when he de-
scrisxd the caucus. and declared no one
was present TO witness the murder OF
American industry"
y an very earnestly in favor OF re-
vision OF the tariff" said Senator Bris-
tow. IN Offering an amendment increasing
sugar duties but ] am not in favor OF
free trade and. as inconsistent and faulty
as this bill IS. that apparently is the pnr-
pose OF It's advocates He added that
the Underwood bin was more inde-
iensible from the standpoint Of principle
than the Pavne- -Aldrich law
i is asserted at the White House that
he President intends 70 stand pat on the
tariff bin as IL passed the House. ana
Nl oppose any amendments offered IN
ihe Senate Much influence has been
brought 70 hear on President Wilson I"
ooiain his approval Of amendments. but
he thus far has refused 10 consent 10
single change which would affect the
spirit OF the bill as passed by the House
although some Of the Democratic lead
es still believe r. will yield something
When in bis estimation. the proper time
has come
'ovenment revenues from customs re-
'-'pts are beginning 20 show a material
osehne for May, although heavy i'm
Io'ations usually are characteristic or
me spring months. Treasury experts
@inlliar with the temper Of the business
world during tariff revision periods de-
Na'e the condition Is not unusual as
0'siness interests then seem 20 mark
.nne' holding importations 10 the lowest
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