The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-08
Contents Itself With
Making of Personal
Promises.
MAJORITY OF ONE
ABSOLUTELY SURE
Forty-Seven Senator'S Give Their
Word to Vote for Underwood
Simmons Tariff Bill as Party
Measure, and Two More
Are Known to
Favor 1t.

Washington. July 7.-Forty.seven
Democratic Senators stood up in the
party caucus ono by one late to-day
and declared their Intention to vote
for the Underwood Simmons tariff re-
vision bill as finally approved by the
caucus few minutes previously. Two
Senator'S, Ransdell and Thornton. OF
Louisiana. stated that they would not
make such promises because Of the
proposal to place sugar on the free list
in 1915. Senator's Hitchcock, Of Ne
braska, and Culberson. of Texas. were
absent, but both are known to be in
favor of the bill This gives the
Democrats forty-nine votes for the bill.
or slender majority of one. with tho
vote OF the Vice-President to fall back
on in an emergency.
Personal Promises Made.
An absolute binding resolution was
not adopted. the poll by individuals
being substituted and that poll was
put only on the ground Of personal
promise. and was not made binding
a resolution was adopted. however.
declaring the Underwood Simmons bill
II party measure. and urging Its un-
divided support without amendment
the committee. Senator Ncwlands, OF
Nevada east the only vote against this
resolution, but Senators Shafroth, Of
Colorado: Ransdell and Thornton, did
not vote.
The resolution was az follows:
Resolved, that the tariff bill agreed
to by this conference, In It's amended
form. is declared to be party meas
ure. and we urge Its undivided support
as a duty by Democratic Senator'S
without amendment. Provided. how
ever. that the conference or the FL
nance Committee may, after reference
or otherwise. propose amendments to
the bill"
Senator Kern, chairman of the eau
Gus. and Chairman Simmons. OF the
Finance Committee. expressed entire
satisfaction over the outcome, and do
cla-ed their confidence that enough
votes were pledged to assure the pas
sage of the bill with free wool and
free sugar included. 1t became appa-
rent tonight when the caucus con-
vencd that resolution which would
bind members to the bill without
amendment was distasteful to many
of the Senators. The resolution. there
fore, was modified and presented In
the form of Il party measure. Before
this was put to a vote the motion was
made that Senator's be asked fatty as
to their intention regarding the meas
ure. and this was agreed TO. The roll
was then called.
On this roll call the Louisiana Sena-
tors stated that II was not their inten-
ton to support the bill without amend
ment. Senator Newlands said that he
had not definitely made UP his mind as
to certain amendments he might urge,
but in the end 1t was his intention to
stand by the party measure. Senator
Shafroth explained that he did not
want to he bound to support the bill.
but that 1t was his present intention to
vote for II. All the other members
orty-five-voted AYE" on the
roll call. These Senators. Hitchcock
and Culberson, absent, but accounted
for, constitute the Democratic member
ship OF the Senate-fifty- -one.
Satisfied with Showing.
we are satisfied with this showing
said Senator Simmons tonight. II am
going over the final printed draft OF
the bill for corrections. and shall report
II to the Senate some time this week
Thursday. if possible. ] shall call q
meeting of the full Finance Committee
on Wednesday in all probability. At
any rate, the measure Will be ready for
general debate next week"
Senator Newlands, In a statement
explaining his position. gave evidence
of his intention to stand by the party.
II voted against making the bill n
party measure" Senator Newlands said,
because. while 1t is superior to the
existing tariff. 1t has certain defects
which should be remedied. It discrimi-
mates against far Western products.
The reductions should be apportioned
over a period of three years. instead of
taking effect Immediately. Further re-
ductions on sliding scale should be
provided for, particularly on food prod
ucts and clothing. There should be a
tariff board. with power to ascertain
facts. make recommendations to Con-
eress. and make further suggestions
under rule established by Congress"
Before final action on the bill, the
caucus gave concessions to the Sena-
tors from wool-growing States by
adopting an amendment making ef-
fective the provision for free raw wool
on December 1. 1918. and the rates on
manufactures Of wool January /, 1914
Earlier in the day the Finance Commit
tee had voted to recommend the dates
October /, and December 1, respective
ly. but the caucus voted for the further
delay.
This action completed the revision
of the Underwood bill. which has occu-
pied the Finance Committee majority
and the caucus since May T.
Passes Third Reading.
Especial Cable to The Times-Dispatch.
J,nn1On TtIIv 7-Tha a,