Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-08
Democrats in House Will
Probably cceptProgram
of Tariff Revision Under
Leader Underwood.
WILL, STAND BACK
OF FITZGERALD
Believed That Wilson Will
Support Scheme of Rigid
Economy; Would Make
Sherman Law Stronger.

ICOIAOA1AV W NoNA~
Sherman Law Stronger.
Washington, D. c., March with
the house ways and means commlttee
meeting to organize, the real tarln
work of the sixty-third congress began
today. With only three new members
on the democratic side Of the commit
tee It seemed practically certain that
the tariff measures framed under the
supervision of Majority Leader Under
wood during the last session Will De
accepted by the new committee ana
laid before the caucus before the extra
session begins April 1.
In addition to It's tariff work, the
committee is confronted by the prob
lem of reorganizing the entire demo
cratic side of the house through It's
function as committee on committees.
The committee appointments are ex-
pected to develope some lively con-
tests and the leaders are inclined to
defer action on them as long as posi-
BILE. Representative Underwood ana
his associates are of the opinion that
the democrats should get down to
work on the tariff and let all other
questions go until the regular session
next December. With this program IN
mind 1t has even been suggested that
only the necessary committee ap-
pointments to take care Of two supply
bills which failed in the last session,
enrolled bills, and accounts, necessary
to care for the routine of the house
be organized at the extra session. This
would defer any trouble over appoint
uents until the tariff was out of the
way. .s'..
May Take Up Currency.
There Is some sentiment In the
house however, in favor of immediate
currency legislation arising from an
impression that President Wilson de-
sires early action in that direction.
Whether Representative Carter Glass,
who will be chairman of the banking
and currency committee OF the new
congress, will be allowed to bring IN
his bill at the extra session will rest
largely with the president, 1t Is said,
although the house. leaders are urg-
ing Mr.. Wilson to conf1ne the activities
OF the extra session to the tariff.
The usual crop Of lobbyists, Is ap-
pearing in Washington to watch the
ways and means committee. Organic
ed opposition will combat any radical
tariff bills in the house and will fol-
low them to the senate where strenu-
Gus efforts will be made to temper any
great reductions.
President Wilson today began con-
ferences with some of the leaders of
his party in congress. He was in
the executive offices shortly after 9
o'clock and at once attacked the mass
of correspondence that has reached
the white house during the last few
days. The cabinet, ready for another
special session was prepared to con-
slider appointments of bureau heads.
President Wilson took under consid
Grafton today economy Of administra-
ton and so-called class legislation.
preparation committee discussing with
the president questions of appropria
tions for the coming session recalled
Mr.. Taft had vetoed the sundry civil
bill because of provisions to prevent
the government from using certain
sum to enforce the Sherman law
ganizations.
..... VIII OtdnO OJ fIIZSSrdI0.
President Wilson took firm posi-
ton, 1t was said, behind Mr.. Fitzgerald
for rigid economy. 1t is known that
he looked apprehensively from Tren-
ton at the appropriations of the last
congress.
Mr.. Wilson had before him in New
Jersey a situation where labor organ
izations Of the state prompted by
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor, objected vigor-
ously to one of the "seven sister anti
trust laws, on the ground that they
restricted labor unions from making
agreements with corporations or indi-
vidual as to wages, hours, etc. They
suggested that the bill be amended but
Mr.. Wilson insisted that such an
amendment would be class legislation
forbidden under New jerseys consti-
tuition. He contended too, that the
New Jersey courts had not and could
not include labor unions within the
scope of corporation regulations. Fed
eral legislation, he told the labor lead
ers, might be different
Some of the presidents confdants
think that if the provisions exempting
labor unions from prosecution were
included in the sundry civil bill again
Mr.. Wilson would be inclined to in
fuence their elimination, preferring to
postpone the enunciation Of the gov
ernment's policy until revision OF the
Sherman anti-tElst law -ras attempted.