The Washington herald., 1913-08-10
MINORITY BALKS
Vote ON TARIFF
Democratic Proposals to Ac-
cept Certain Amendments
Are Rejected.
KENYON MAKES SPEECH
Iowa Senator Offers Amendment Put
ting Products Of "Aluminun
Trust" on Free List.

The first move looking to an agreemen,
IN the Senate for fixing a date for vote
on the tariff bill was made yesterday.
Senator Simmons, chairman OF the FL
nance Committee. held informal CONFER
ences with Senator Reed Smoot, repre-
sentirg the regular Republicans, and Sen
ator La Toilette, representing the pro-
gressiye Republicans, while Senator James
Hamilton Lewis, Democratic whip, was
busy doing scout duty and reporting
progress.
The proposal submitted by the Demo-
cratic leaders was to accept certain
amendments TO the agricultural schedule
proposed by Republican Senators from the
Northwest, looking to duties on wheat.
barley and other agricultural products,
upon a promise that Republican Senators
would refrain from making speeches and
agree to an early day for a vote on the
bill
simmons VIII Not Promise.
When Senator Simmons was asked to
pledge that the conference committee OF
the two houses would retain the amend
ments to be accepted by the Democratic
leaders in the Senate, he stated that he
was not in position to make any such
promise The effect of this was TO balk
the agreement for the time being. al
though it is expected that negotiations
will be renewed early his week.
Republican Senators are apparently
taking very little interest in efforts TO
bring the bill TO a vote. and ii was in
timated yesterday from that side OF the
chamber that no progress would be made
in that direction until some assurances
are given that the currency legislation
will not be pressed upon the present scs-
sion of Congress.
The Senate was in session for more
than four hours yesterday before tha
tariff bill was taken up to he consit-
cred for amendments. Up to this time.
not quite 200 paragraphs of the bill have
been considered. although the measure
has been before the Senate for near;y
a month, and of the paragraphs that
have been considered, about forty Of
them have been passed over to be re-
turned to later. Not a single schedule in
the bill actually has been completed, ard
the Democratic leaders are very much
concerned over the apparent deadlock.
Scissors Amendment Considered.
Most of the time given to the bill
Yesterday was devoted to an amendment
offered by Senator Burton of Ohio to
increase the duties on scissors and
shears. The Democrats proposed fiat
duty of 31 per cent. Senator Burton
proposed two classifications. one to in
dude such articles valued at less than
81 to pay 81 per cent. and another. in
Guiding such articles valued at more
than 81 dozen. to he taxed at IS per
cent. His amendment was defeated by
a vote of IS TO II. The time of the Sem
ate was given entirely to the metals
schedule.
Senator Kenyon made a strong plea
10 the Democrats 10 live up TO their
platform and put on the free list all the
articles entering into competition with
tCust-rnade goods. He offered an amend
ment, which was not acted upon, placing
the products of the aluminium trust
on the free list. Senators Reed of Mis-
souri,, and Pomerene of Ohio, declared
that they believed that the Iowa Sena
tor was right in his contention, and ad
mitted that he had made a strong case
against the aluminium trust. or the
Aluminium Company of America.