The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-04-12
CAUCUS FOR FREE
SHOE MACHINES
First Break From Rates in
New Tariff Bill
SUGAR men FIGHTIaG HARD
Efforts of Opponents of Free Sugar
to Make Combinations With Those
Opposed to Other Features Fails.


to Make Combinations With Those
Opposed to Other Features Fails.
Washington, April IL. = The first
change to be made in the Underwood
tariff bill came yesterday.
The Democratic caucus OF the house
voted to put shoe machinery on the
free list and the finance committee OF
the senate adopted motion increas-
ing the duties on pottery and glass
ware.
: These changes probably are only a
beginning, as protests are being re-
ceived from manufacturers and pro
ducers in all parts of the country, and
every incoming train is bringing dele
cations who are reported prepared to
demand that amendments be offered.
The amendment adopted by the
house caucus was offered by Repre-
sentative Borland, of Missouri. 1t was
carried by an overwhelming vote.
Chairman Underwood and his asso-
ciates on the ways and means COM
mittee made no fight against the free
shoe machinery amendment. They saw
that the caucus was in sympathy with
the amendment and practically let it
pass by default. The argument in sup
port of the amendment was that a
trust controlled shoe machinery in
this country, and for that reason 1t
should be admitted duty free.
This was the only change made in
the metal schedule. Democrats seem
disposed to reduce rates on products
supposed to be controlled by so-called
trusts, and accordingly the section OF
the bill placing steel rails and iron ore
on the free list went through with a
whOop. Consideration of the metal
schedule was concluded.
The caucus then took up the lum-
Der schedule. Every effort to place
articles of wood on the dutiable list,
nearly all of which are admitted free
by the Underwood bill, was defeated.
In fact only few members from lum-
ber producing states of the south had
the temerity to suggest that wood pro-
ducts should be retained on the du-
table list. Every time such an amend
ment was offered it was practically
howled down, and no attempt was
made to force record vote in any in
stance
An ugly feeling has been aroused
over the sugar schedule. Members who
upon the passage of the bill appear to
be just as deterained as some NAe
are now trying for an extension of
the dutiabie period from three to five
years.
Efforts made by the opponents of
combination with other Democrats
who are opposed to some of the fea-
lures of the Underwood bill have so
far failed. Present indications are
that it will be impossible to effect any
alliances among the disatfected ele-
ments against the organization headed
by Representative Underwood. The
organization has the support of the
administration, and it is this fact that
deters members disgruntled over the
tariff bill from getting together.
The house caucus will be continued
today and probably the meeting will
be projected into next week. Little
progress has been made on the bill in
the last three days. Three schedules
have been passed upon. There are
thirteen other schedules, in addition to
the income tax provision and the ad-
ministrative features of the Under
wood bill