The Washington times., 1913-04-18
Republicans Divided
On Tariff Legislation

| With doors open so that the public
| might hear of their plans to combat
| the Democratic tariff bill, the Republi-
| cans of the House met in conference
| this afternoon in the assembly room OF
| the House office boulding. The con-
! ference may extend into the night. or
/ adjournment may be taken as the Re-
publicans have knotty problem on
their hands.
While the minority members de-
nounced the Underwood bill today the
Democrats were putting the finishing
touches in caucus on their party meas
ure. The majority held forth In the
House chamber.
At the outset of the Republican con-
ference today Congressman Moore of
Pennsylvania raised the issue OF
whether the minority shall present sub
stitutes for the wool and cotton sched-
ules of the Democratic bill. Mr.. Moore.
recently elected to the Ways and
Means Committee. vigorously opposed
such plan, holding that 1t is better for
the Republicans to permit the Demo-
Gratis to revise the tariff in their own
way, as all Republican opposition will
! be futile.
Favor Unity.
On the other hand. Congressman Len
root Anderson. Payne, Gardner, and
other minority members believe the Re-
publicans should get together on sub
stitutes for these schedules, framing
them in accordance with the report of
the now defunct tariff board. The board
reported only on these two schedules,
but the Democrats of the last House
declined to pay heed to the boards
recommendations.
why not let the Democrats hang
themselves without aid from u.s." ar
gued Mr.. Moore today.
"If we present wool and cotton schcd-
ules we must prepare them hastily and
We would In measure be pound by
these old bills when We regain posses
sion of the House why risk possible
assuredly coming back into control and
we may then revise the tariff on report
of a non-partisan tariff commission
which We favor"
Mr. Moore offered resolution, which
Immediately became the subject of de-
bate, voicing the sense OF the confer
ence that It was unwise for the Re-
publicans to attempt to offer substitutes
for any schedules of the Underwood
Ways and Means Committee have not
held hearings nor were they consulted
in the preparation of the Democratic
bill.
The Republicans rae agreed upon one
proposition-that they will solidly cham
commission whose report shall be had
before a revision Of the tariff is under
taken
Congressman Rogers Of Massachusetts,
is awaiting the disposition Of the Moore
resolution in order that he may pre-
sent one of an entirely different nature.
Mr.. Rogers proposes that the Republic
ans of the House shall go on record
as favoring a change in the representa-
ton of the States in Republican ma
tional conventions. He demands that
the Republican national committee get
together and work out a plan whereby
States will be entitled to delegates ac-
cording to the Republican strength in
such States.
This is the occasionally revived
scheme to cut down the representation
of the Southern States. where Repub-
licans are few.
The big fight in the conference this
afternoon, howevere, centered on the
policy of present substitutes for cer-
tain schedules of the Underwood bills.
The Republicans brought in a wool and
cotton bill at the last session, and the
question now Is whether these old bills
will be resurrected or whether the
Democrats will be allowed to revise the
tariff without Interference by Repub-
licans except in the offering OF indi-
vidual amendments.