The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-04-16
DELAY IN CAUCUS
HOLDS UP TARIFF
May Not Get Into the Senate
Before June |
UNDERWOOD AGAIN LEADS
All Along the Line It Is Fight Be-
tween City and Country Members
In Democratic Caucus.

Washington, April Is. - Slow pro-
gress in consideration of the tarin
bill by the Democratic house caucus
has upset the prediction of admins
tration leaders that the measure would
be in the senate by May 1.
Many members predicted that the
caucus would not be through the bill
until the middle of next week. In that
case the prospect is that it will be
nearly June l when the bill passes in
the house.
After a week of elaboration the eau.
Gus is less than half way through the
bill, with several important schedules
to be disposed of. notably wool and
cotton.
The income tax is also certain TO
require considerable time for explana-
ton. Representative Hull, of Tennes
see, author of this section, will have
charge of it in the caucus.
Representative Underwood. chair
man of the ways and means commit
tee. was sufficiently recovered from
his illness to resume charge OF the
bill in the caucus, although his friends
urged him to return home until com
pletely recovered.
The caucus resumed consideration
OF the agricultural schedule. with
wheat first on the list Northwestern
representatives opposed free -four. de-
claring it inconsistent with duty OF
10 cents a bushel on wheat. Citrus
fruits also were the target for opposi-
ton, as well as the free listing OF
potatoes
Representative Levy, of New York,
moved to place wheat on the free list
Representative Fowler, of Illinois, Of
fered an amendment to increase the
proposed duty from 10 cents to Is
cents a bushel The caucus rejected
both amendments.
When the citrus fruit provisions
were reached members from California
and Florida began fight to maintain
the present duties on lemons, lines
and oranges. Representative Church,
of California, offered an amendment
to restore the rates of the Dingley act
as compromise. Representatives
Baker and Kettner, or California, and
Sparkman, of Florida, supported the
resolution, and Representative Harri
son, of New York, defended the rates
proposed by the committee.
The Church amendment was repect-
ed, as was also an amendment to in
disposed of the fruit fight, and the
agricultural schedule was soon after
completed without a change having
been made.
Persistent efforts to put cattle and
sheep on the free list, to cut the duty
on swine and otherwise to amend the
bill were defeated.
The agricultural schedule was be-
fore the caucus. and there were some
lively speeches. Many of the new
members Of the house aired their
views, but each time there was test
the committee was Overwhelmingly
sustained
All along the line it was fight be-
tween the city and the country mem
bers. "The fellows from the city," as
they were characterized by Represen
tative Shackleford, of Missouri, at
tackled the agricultural schedule,
which imposes small protective rates
on nearly all products of the farm.
The city members expressed the belief
that to help the market basket" all
farm and food products should be put
on the free list.
On the other hand, most of the
members from agricultural states COM
planned bitterly that the rates of the
schedule under consideration sacrificed
the interests of the farmers. They
argued that the reductions would in
nowise affect the cost of living. and
that this being so it would be the wise
thing to accord the son of the soil s
little more Incidental protection"