Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-05
Meet This Morning to Put Fin
ishing Touches on New
Tariff Bill.
MEMBERS ARE BOUND
TO SUPPORT MEASURE
Three Possible Exceptions, But Ma
jority Is Assured, Declare
Leaders.

The democratic caucus of the Sem
ate met this morning to give it's final
approval OF the tariff bill-the Under
wood as ii came from the House,
but henceforth to be known the In
derwood- Simmons bill Contrary to
many predictions. the majority MEM
bers of the finance committee and the
democratic caucus have revised the
Underwood bill downward, and for the
first time tariff bill will be reported
to the Senate carrying an average
lower rate of duties than as 1T passed
the House.
Senator Simmons, chairman of the
finance committee, in a statement to
The Star today. declared that the bill
as finally adopted by the caucus Is ex-
ceedingly satisfactory to the commit
tee.
"The caucus has sustained the COM
mittee in all of its actions on the tarin
bill" said Senator Simmons. except
on one or two minor and relatively
unimportant matters. l am satlsneo
that the bill as approved by the caucus
will pass the Senate. and with sucn
notifications as may be made in con-
ference between the two houses, Will
be enacted into law.
Il am confident that there VIII be no
country as result of the operation OF
this new tariff law. / am confident that
it will result in relieving the people OF
the United States of many burdens from
which they suffer under the present tariff
law 1t will lay the foundation of
greater prosperity"
Democratic Senators Bound.
Before taking its final adjournment on
the tariff bill, the democratic caucus to-
day adopted rule binding the democratic
senator's to the caucus action on the
measure Three democratic senators only
will not be bound by the caucus. Ransdell
and Thornton of Louisiana and Hltchcock
of Nebraska The democratic leaders,
however. have been assured that only
Senators Ransdell and Thornton will vote
a&ainst the bill when it comes to the final
action In the Senate
This means that the democrats VIII pass
the bill by Q vote of at least 40 to AZ, even
should all Of the republicans and the pro
9roeafvae vote solidly against the meas
ura. together with the two Louisiana
sGnstoTs. The democrats might lose stil
another vote and still be able to pass the
IN through the vote Of the Vice Presf-
dent, who would decide In case OF tie
Senator Simmons said today that he be-
nSved the, bill would be passed by tne
senate by the middle Of August. and that
a shodld become law by September l.
senate majority III A10e.
Never I'm the history of tariff legisla-
ton has the majority membership OF the
Senate been more solidly in line to sup
port tariff bill than is the present DEM
ocratic majority. 1t was pointed out today.
Ever since the tariff bill was reported
to the House weeks ago. predictions have
been made that the Senate would remake
the Underwood bill. raise rates. so that
rnf
measure. Today the bill carries lower
rates than ever, democratic leaders con-
tend, and there Is every prospect that
II will be PASSED by the Senate with only
such changes as the nnance cOmmlttee
will recommend.
The bill today more nearly represents
the democratic principles and at the
same time is a more scientihc tarin
measure than IL was before the finance
committee took hold of IL, it is said by
the democratic leaders Members of
the House have given them assurance
that the democrats of that body are
friendly to the changes which have
been made in the measure for the most
part, particularly to the most important
amendments made by the committee.
To Senator Simmons. head of the
finance committee, the democrats are
giving much of the credit for the man
ner in which the bill has been han
died. both in committee and in caucus.
He has done much to preserve the har-
democratic leaders. his friends say.
While the debate in caucus has at times
Deer, sharp, il was said today that no
i'll feeling has developed among the
democrats. the nearest approach to
such a thing being tue feeling which
the withdra wal OF Senator Hitchcock Of
Nebraska from the caucus when that
body refused TO adopt his proposed
amendment placing a graduated tax
upon tobacco production.
Action of Finance Committee.
The majority members of the finance
committee yesterday approved the plan
to extend the date upon which the woolen
scheddle should go into effect. Before
announcing the date decided upon, how
ever, Chairman Simmons said he wished
10 confer with Senator Walsh and other
senators who have been opposing fret
raw wool The committee also formally
agreed that the new sugar duties should
not go into effect until March l. 1914
With the exception OF these schedules
however. il is expected that all of thu
tariff schedules will become effective a:
eoon as the bill becomes law.