The chronicle=news., 1913-09-18
TARIFF BILL NAY
SOON Be READY FOR
WILSON SIGNATURE

II Washington. Sept. ls.-The VIII
son Underwood tariff bill has now
entered upon Its last legislative
stage. II was passed By the Senate
on September sth by vote OF ~ 10
81. Two Democrais-G@nstors ItanE-
dell and Thornton of Inuisinna-
voted asains, IL bsoaus" OF its sugar
provisions. and senators foirdeSter.
Progressive, and La Toilette. Itspub-
lean. voted for II. The bill now has
II son. to u conference. committee made
up of representatives of the S-na'.
and House. In which the differences
b.t~""n III. bill as II passed the
House and an II passed III" s.nai.
will be adjusted. II In expected that
the .onf-r-nc. report viii be- adopt
/ ed by both houses within ten days or
two weeks. and then che bill will go
to the President for his signature,
TIL. s.na,. bill makes a consider
abl. number of change, over III"
iious. bill. II further reduces tn.
avcra.. rate OF duty. adds som. I'm
portant it~snr To tn. ire. list. and In
er.ass.s III. rat" of tax On lars. in-
cos,,.s. On tn. Who'll. IL Is u better
and more consistent m-asur. than
the House bill.
Tn. passage of the bill In the Sem
AT" IL hailed by Democrats all over
the ,oulir. ~ the iuifiiimcnt Of
their platform and campaign picdr-
.-. There l. no question that In one
respect that IL true. Tho Democrats
II Pledged Themselves In their national
platform aud on III. stump all over
the country to r-yis" III" tariff DOWN
ward aud to make u substantial re-
duction In the existing rate. OF duty,
They surely have done that Their
bill. as u stands. effects n reduction
Of about IS per cent. Tn" average
ad vaiorcm duty under the Payn.-Ai-
drich law IL something over so per
cent. Under the Wilson Underwood
law II will be less than 20 per cent.
TIL. cut il mad. all down the line. II
dealing with pure inxurIcs. II II n
genuine. far-rcachink and effective
reduction. aud that part of the Dcn,-
cratic promise Is fulfilled.
N hut the country Is much more In
tercstcd In sreluK whether or not
the measure will prove al equal full
niIment of the other part of the
Democratic tariff pledge. by far the
mos, Important part OF their tariff
promise to the conntry was the con-
stant and widely made pledge by the
Democrats that through this rcduc-
! ,ion In tariff rates they would bring
down the cost OF living. which now
burdens SO tremendously tho great
wagc-working population of the
country. The real test OF the Wilson
Underwood law will he found In its
effect or lack OF effect on the high
cost Of living. The bill has found its
popularity In the country almost
wholly because OF the Democratic
| promise to cut the cost of living.
| This Is tho chief issue In the coun-
try today. The demand Is wcli-nirh
universal for relief from this burden.
The Democrats assured the country
that the tariff exactions OF the stand
Pat Republicans were the chief cause
of the high cost OF living. They re.
iterated their promise OF relief on ev-
cry platform throughout the cam
paign. Within the last ten days no
less a Democratic authority than
Speaker Clark has repeated the prom
isc. making It specifically for this
bill. Now. the time has come for
fulfillment. The new bill will go in
TO effect with all its provisions with
in short time. If the Democratic
promise was true. II Its makers un-
derstood the problem they profcssei
We're statesmen and economists, and
not mere blatant demagogucs blath-
ering for office. prices for food and
clothing and the necessities OF life
are about to fall and relief is at hand
for the ultimate consumer.
n these things come to pass then
| Democrats will have earned and be
entitled to their reward.
If they do not come to pass then
| also the Democrats will have earned
and be entitled to their reward. But
It will be different reward
EECnpTS IN MrnYATC