Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-09
TARIFF MEASURE
REACHES SENATE
Long Grind Expected Before
Upper House Disposes
of the Bill.
REPUBLICANS TO FIGHT
EVERY INCH OF THE WAY
Believed That Schedules Will Not Be
Materially Changed, But Minor
Amendments Are Expected.

The Underwood tariff bill was received
by the Senate from the House soon after
the Senate met at o'clock this after
noon
Senator Penrose OF Pennsylvania, rank
ing republican member OF the finance
committee. moved that in referring the
bill 10 the finance committee the Senate
instruct the committee to grant hearings
on the measure before reporting IL back
to the Senate. 1t had been the intention
hearings, but to permit persons inter-
ested in the schedules to file such briefs
with the committee as they chose.
With the laying of the bill before the
Senate today the long grind. expected to
last two months or more before the bill
is passed by the Senate, was actually
begun
While il is known that the republicans
will fight the bill every inch of it's way
in the Senate. II Is the general belief at
the Capitol that the measure will be
passed by the Senate without material
change The action of the House. which
had the President behind it, will be an ad-
ditional spur to the Senate majority TO
pass the bill without change
Amendments Expected.
1t is expected that the finance commit
tee will report the bill with some amend
ments. but it is not expected that these
amendments will prove vital. The textile
schedules will be modified to some ex-
tent, it is said, as will be others. and
there will be some amendments to equal
ize rates.
A iu fob 10 la tod
wool and sugar schedules. Louisiana
senators are counted upon To vote against
any bill which provides for free sugar
three years from now. But II is not be-
will be found ready to join with them to
defeat a democratic bill with the as
sistance OF the republicans.
Also II was pointed out today that il
| is by no means sure all of the republican
| strength of the Senate will stand together
on the tarin bill.
Many amendments to the bill will be
| submitted by republican senator's. but
| they are expected to be bowled over by
| the democratic majority.
Final Vote on Party Lines.
The passage of the Underwood bill in
the House yesterday afternoon had been
| SO thoroughly discounted that the final
| vote, and the decision of Speaker Clark
L
fort to have the bill recommitted with the
| tariff commission amendment, met with
| only mild applause. The final vote was
| 2S1 to 49, drawn nearly on party lines
entirely. Representatives Cary and Stat
ford of Wisconsin voted with the ma
jority while Representatives Broussard.
Dupre Lazaro and Morgan, all of Louis
lana. voted against the bill on account of
| it's provision reducing the tariff on sugar
and placing II on the free list in three
years. Representative Smith of New
York also voted against 1t.
Representative Kent of California. in
dependent. voted for the bill. together
with progressives as follows: Kelley and
Ripley of Pennsylvania, Nolan OF Cali
fornia, Bryan of Washington. Representa-
tive Copley of Illinois answered present
and did not vote.
Progressive Leader Murdoch offered a
motion to recommt the bill, which failed
of a roll call. He and thirteen other
Warning to Republicans.
The chief argument of the republican
leader. Representative Mann, in his effort
to have the bill recommitted with a tariff
commission proviso. was answered by
Representative Underwood with a warn
ing against republicans not to attempt
to scare the country with stories of bad
business
I'VE have established a bureau of for
| eign and domestic commerce." he said,
that goes far beyond anything these
gentlemen desire to obtain in their tariff
board. and it is well for the country TO
know il.
1t not only has the power to investi-
gate the question of cost either here or
| abroad, the amount of imports and eX-
ports and American consumption, but
when a great manufacturing institution
| is ready to threaten its laburers with a
reduction of wages because they say
there has been adverse action and legls-
lation in Congress- or To reflect on the
action of the government of the United
States, that bureau has the power TO
walk into their offices and ascertain
whether there is real reason for their
cutting the rates of wages of their Ia
Dor or whether it is merely a selfish at
tempt to put money into their own pock-
cts.
THE statement has been made that
this tariff bill will act on labor and al
feet the wages of laboring men. 1 give
Won notice now that when the men from
whom YOU bring that message endeaVor
to grind labor in the interest OF repub-
lican politics there is a bureau or this
government that is going TO ascertain
the reason why.