The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-18
More Liberality Shown
in Consideration of
Tariff Schedules.
MEETINGS OPEN
TO NEWSPAPERS
Minority Party Attributes Altered
Plans of Democrats to Heated
Debate on Public Hearing
Observation-Disclosures
ton Clauses of Measure
Denounced in France.

Washington. May 17-Announcement
Gay by Chairman Simmons. of the
ai'ce committee. that subcommit-
mad determined to grant more time
80 protesting manufacturers than at
hrst was Intended aroused consider
anie interest at the Capitol.
although the effort of Senate Re-
puohcans TO force public hearings was
de1eated. minority leaders see in the
changed tactics of the Democrats =
concession while they claim resulted
IN the denuncfation OF secret consjd
Grafton OF the bill. Another interest
ing development was the determine
tlon or Senator Hoke Smith. OF
mittee considering the cotton and
Chemical schedules. TO have the nri-
Vate hearings conducted by him re-
ported ny Senate stenograpfer This
is an Innovation which the Repub-
iicans assert was brought about
Ihr1ueh the insistence of Senator's La
follette and BristOw. who urged that
the private hearings be published for
the benefit of Senator'S not on the
FINANCE Committee. II also has been
agreed that the Finance COMMITTEES
VIII send to manufacturers the list OF
questions on costs and production pro-
posed by Senator La Toilette
Feature Is Libernlizing.
sun another liberalizing feature re-
suiting from the debate on the Pen
rosetta Toilette public hearing amend
ment was the reiteration by Senator
Hoke Smith and some OF his col
leagues that members OF the press
could attend the private hearings. The
previous statement was the first the
newspaper men ever had heard of 1T.
and II also was news to other mem
6ers OF the Finance Committee. To-
DAY senator Smith conferred with
other members of1the committee and
found they 'Aawere agreeable to ad
hitting newspa per. reporters
None OF the tariff bill subcommittees
held hearings to-day except Senator
Wiiliams's committee. which gave n
brief hearing to Assistant Secretary
or the Treasury Curtis and Assistant
Attorney General Dcnison on the ad-
ministration features of the bill
we VIII try to have the bill ready
for the Senate by June said Senator
simmons to-day, but it probably Will
be little later than that owing to
the fact that the subcommittee have
agreed to give a little moro time to
the manufacturers who are protesting
against the rates In the Underwood
bill They have decided to do this
owing TO the insistence and persist
ence of some OF the interests affected
by the bill We already have lost a
debate on the reference motions, but
the work Will be pushed as rapidly
as possible"
Cnll Meeting Tuesday.
Chairman Simmons viii call meet
ing OF the Finance Committee Tues
day. when the probable time for hold
ing the Democratic caucus on the bill
will be discussed Democrats of the
committee practically have decided
they Will propose no changes in tho
free wool and sugar schedules. that
Democrats opposed 10 the present sched-
ules must carry their fight to the
party caucus
According to the present plan the
subcommittee having the wool and
sugar schedules under consideration
Will listen to all arguments Senators
wish to lay before them. but will re-
port the bill to the full Democratic
membership OF the committee without
recommendations. Democrats of the
committee will refer sugar and wool
to a party caucus and the Senators
interested will be given an oppor-
tunity TO make n final appeal If they
fail leaders believe they will support
tho entire measure when 1t comes be-
fore the Senate.
Leaders do not expect the two Louis
lana Senators to abide by caucus
agreement. but the vote yesterday on
the question of hearings have given
them confidence that after the last
word is said in caucus the Western
Senators who have fought free wool
and sugar will accept the bill as a
party measure and vote for it.
Neither the Senate nor the House
was in session to-day, and considcra-
ton of the tariff bill had passed from
the Senate floor to the Finance Com
mittee, where it will remain at least
two weeks.