The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-09
Democrats Answer Their Plat
form Pledge in Congress.
Overwhelming Vote of 2S1 to
139 Trampled Opposition.
MURDOCH MADE BIG FIGHT
Kansas Member Chung to Sides
of Sinking Ship.
Schedule Battle Shifts From
House to Senate.

Washington, May e.-The Underwood
tariff bill, proclaimed by the Demo-
cratic party as the answer to its plat
form pledge to reduce the tariff down
ward, was passed by the house late
Thursday.
The vote was PSI to 139, five Demo-
Gratis voting against the bill and two
Republicans voting for it. Four Pro-
gressives supported the measure and Ia
opposed it, while one Independent Pro-
gressive Joined with the majority.
When Speaker Clark announced the
vote in loud tones that revealed his
satisfaction in the arrival of the day he
long had sought, exuberant Democrats
hoisted a stuffed Democratic donkey
over the heads Of their colleagues in
the rear of the chamber, faint ripple
of applause followed and the gavel fell
on the first chapter in the history OF
President Wilson's extra session of
congress.
With the bill, after a months con-
sideration, on it's way to the senate,
there was a rush of representatives for
their homes.
In the house, adjournment will be
! taken three days at a time, beginning
| next week, until June 1. In the mean
time the senate finance committee will
study the bill, while the house ways
and means committee will organize
| committees preparatory to the transac-
| ton of further business next month.
Voted No to Last.
Republicans and Progressives led re-
| spectively by Representative Mann Of
| Illinois and Representative Murdoch of
| Kansas, protested to the last against
| the measure, the lowest tariff bill ever
| written, and proclaiming, as the Demo-
| cratic avalanche bowled them over, the
virtues of differing tariff commission
plans.
| Republicans who voted for the bill
| were Carey and Stafford of Wisconsin.
| Democrats who opposed it were Brous-
| sard, Dupre, Lazaro and Morgan of
| Louisiana, on account of the schedule
reducing sugar 25 per cent and sending
it to the free list in three years, and
| c. B. Smith of New York.
| PrOgressives who voted for the bill
were Kelly and Ripley of Pennsyl-
vania, Nolan of California, and Bryan
| of Washington. Kent of California,
formerly a Republican, but now an
| Independent Progressive, also voted
! for the bill.
Copley Did Not Vote.
Victor Murdoch and thirteen of his
| Progressive followers voted with the
minority. Representative Copley a
| Progressive. did not vote, answering
present to his name.
In the final consideration of the
measure the minority leader. Mr..
Mann, made a lengthy speech on a
|
| rule out provision for tariff board in
the motion of Representative Payne
| of New York to recommit the bill.
! Speaker Clark sustained the point of
| order. Mr.. Mann appealed from the
| decision of the chair and a roll call
was taken on Mr.. Underwood's mo-
ton to table the appeal the Democrats
winning, 274 to 143.
Murdoch also moved to recommit
| with Instructions to provide for a
| nonpartisan tariff commission, but
failed to get a roll call and then the
| Payne motion to recommit minus the
tariff board provision was lost, 1913 to
296.
| Up to Senate Now.
Today the tariff fight shifts from
| the house, with it's overwhelming
| Democratic majority, to the senate,
| where the party's slim majority of six
| already has been reduced, as far as
this bill is concerned, to four. Uu-
less senators familiar with the progress
| of such legislation are mistaken, there
( is now little prospect of final vote on
| the bill before August 1.
The bills passage through the SEN
! ate will be fought at every step by a
| Republican organization, apparently
in accord on this subject and willing
to spend unlimited time and energy in
| an effort to defeat it.