The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-23
Bill Is Approved by
Strict Party Vote
of IA to7.
DEBATE IN HOUSE
WILL BEGIN TODAY
With It's Consideration Demo
cratic Leader Underwood Calls
for Night Sessions-Senate
Committee Decides Against
Public Hearings When 1t
Comes Before Body.

Washington. April 22-By a strict
party vote the Senate Finance Commit
tee to-day decided finally that no pub
lie hearings would be given upon the
tariff bin when it reaches the Senate.
Interested persons will be given a full
opportunity. However, to flc briefs or
statements with the committee, bear
ing on any of the tarifr schedules.
The decision is expected to shorten
materially the time that will be con-
sumed in getting the tariff bill before
the Senate for consideration. Tariff
debate opens In the House at II O'Clock
tomorrow, and IN the hope that gem
eral debate can be limited to five days.
Democratic Leader Underwood will at
tempt to hold the House to twelve
hours of continuous work daily. An
other week OF consideration under the
rule permitting amendments will send
the bill to the Senate soon after May 5.
IT is believed.
Vigorous Supporting Report.
The tariff bin came back to the
Hbuse to-day from the Ways and
Means Committee. with vigorous sup
porting report from the Democrats on
the committee. and an opposing report
from the Republican members.
The general debate that begins to-
efforts on the part of the Republicans
in the House to amend the bill in all
its important schedules
While the Senate Finance Committee
has decided that further hearings are
unnecessary the Democratic members
of the conpnittee will confer to-mor-
row with Democratic Senator'S from
Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain
States, who are opposed. to the free
nd frna -icin ,,f ha
new bill.
A number OF Western Senators, in
cluding Senators Myers, of Montana,
and Ashurst, of Arizona, will not par
ticipate In the conference, as they have
decided TO support the free wool and
sugar program II 1t is approved by the
House
Strength of Opposition.
The conference Tomorrow will de-
monstrate the strength against these
features OF the bill Those who will
participate insist, however thRt there
has been no effort to form an offensive
alliance against the measure, as proof
OF which they point to the fact that the
Louisiana Senators and others inter-
ested in a change of the free sugar
and free wool provisions have not been
included in the conference.
Democratic Leader Underwood to-
day decided TO call for day and night
sessions of the House, beginning to-
morrow, TO expedite the passage Of the
tariff bill 1t was said his decision
was in accordance with a suggestion
from the White House that night ses-
sions would show an earnest desire to
secure tariff legislation as quickly as
possible
With the entire Ways and Means
Committee In session for the first time,
Representative Underwood to-day laid
before 1t the Democratic tariff revision
bill After receiving vigorous opposi-
tion by the six Republican members
and Victor Murdoch. the new Progress
sive member of the committee, it was
approved by the strict party vote OF
IA to Z.
Budget May he Devised.
The report submitted by Chairman
Underwood after outlining the opera
tions of the proposed income tax, said:
THE revenues from all income taxes
readily respond to changes of rates.
and the latter can be raised or lowered
within n few days time and without
business disturbances, such as general
tariff changes occasion. 1t is believed
that a budget or other effective system
by which Congress may be able closely
to calculate and determine in advance
Forthcoming expenditures will soon be
devised, in which event il should be-
come easy to maintain close balance
between expenditures and revenues,
such as is practiced in most other civ
ilized countries. With other sources
of revenue revised to an honest and
fixed basis. and the income tax a per-
manent part OF our revenue system
Continued on Seventh Page.
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