The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-03
SUMTER. 8. c., SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1918.
4 WAR or WORDS.
ATTACK DEMO.
CRATIC RECORD ON TARIFF.
Debate I'm House Oh Underwood Tariff
Bill Tuesday Was Not Really a
Iar1n Debate But Il Republican At
tack OH Democratic RecOrd-Re-
pubiicans and PrOSressives Grow
Excited But Democrats Stand Firm.

washington, April 29.-Excited de-
pate and heated wrangling today
marked the beginning of the reading
OF the Democratic tariff bill in the
house for amendment. Progress on
the perfection Of the measure was
SLOW, but the talk was vociferous,
and on one occasion brought Speaker
Clark on the floor with a vigorous
speech.
All day the Republicans Offered
amendments to the various para.
graphs in the chemical schedule and
every amendment was voted down by
the big Democratic majority. Several
minor amendments offered by the
ways and means committee to correct
the phraseology of the bill were
adopted.
Most of the talk of the day turned
on the records of the Democratic and
Republican sides Of the house on the
question of creating a tariff commits
sion.
The Republicans, led by Represen-
tative Mann of Illinois, began their
attacks on the various provisions of
the first schedule Of the BILL the
I chemical schedule, by declaring that
the weakness" n the rates show
ed the need Of the investigations of
tariff board. Representative Under
wood in reply declared that the Demo-
Gratis had provided COR the bureau
OF foreign and domestic commerce in
the department OF commerce, and
that failure Of the Taft administra-
ton to vitalize that bureau with suf-
hcient appropriations had prevented
it doing the work of tariff irvestiga-
ton.
Representative Gardner of Massa
Ychusetts said 90. Representative. Under
wood and other Democrats had voted
for the tariff commission in the Sixty
'irst congress when the Republicans
were in power, and urged that they
support the Republican proposition
now Then Representative Murdock,
the Progressive leader touched off the
fireworks. He declared that both Re-
publicans and Democrats were op-
posed to the tariff commission scheme
and recalled the last day of the
SiXty-first congress, Uncle Joe" Can
mons final appearance at the speak
ers desk, when the tariff commission
bill was withdrawn by the Republi-
cans in the face Of a filibuster led "
Representative Fitzgerald of New
York.
The Republicans in this chamber
then" shouted Mr.. Murdock, like
the Republicans in this chamber now,
were only pretending to be for a
tariff commission. They had their
chance to write that bill into law
then and failed. They will never
have another chance"
The Republicans grew excited and
Representative Gardner shouted there
was no foundation for Mr.. Murdocks
charge that the Republican leaders
were in conspiracy to defeat the
tariff commission bill"
Jesticulating wildly, Mr. Gardner
demanded the opinion of Representa-
of
truth Of the charge. Mr.. Shirley said
he believed many of the Republicans
opposed the bill. Then Representa-
tive Gardner shaking a finger at
Speaker Clark, demanded to know
whether he believed the charges. The
speaker strobe to the centre Of the
house and shouted: MY judgment is
that there never was a Republican
leader in this house really in favor
of Il tariff commission"
Mr.. Gardner sat down and the
speaker went on. He declared he was
against II tariff commission, report.
ing to and responsible to the presi-
dent 1t is the house that should
have the information' he said.
The speaker went into detail about
the defeat of the tariff commission
bill in the SiXty-tirst congress. eX-.
planning that the Democrats refused
to follow him and Representative
Underwood.
"Thcy rolled us to a farc-you-wcll."
he declared, land the Republicans
were standing back and Conscnting
like Saul at the Stoning of stephen.
They actually rolled up majority
against Underwood and myself but
1t was the first time and the last time
they ever did it. The only reason
was they caught us mapping"
Representative Gardner again tried
to pin the speaker down To his posi-
Iion ON the conspiracy charge.
Il think the gentleman frnm Nnv ;