The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-30

Lost In Pushing Measure to Vote.
Reading of Bill Will Probably
Give Way To-day to Open Debate.
Washington, July 23.-The Senate
took its first plunge into the intrica-
Giles of the Underwood Simmons tariff
revision bill today. At the end of a
day of hard work only a few para
graphs of the vOluminous measure had
been completed when adjournment
was reached tonight. On every test
vote throughout the day Democratic
leaders were upheld, in some cases re-
ceiving the support of Republicans
aligned with the Progressive element.
Detailed consideration of the bill
began unexpectedly, when it was
found that no Republican Senator'S
were ready to deliver general tariff
speeches. Chairman Simmons Of the
finance committee. urged that the Sem
ate lose no time in pushing the mea-
sure to n vote and with the consent
of the Republicans, the reading of the
bill, line by line, was begun.
Tests of strength came upon a
number of relatively unimportant is
sues, embraced in duties upon chemi-
Gals and drugs. The Democratic
ranks held solidly upon each vote.
Upon the first vote, when Senator
Smoot opposed the reduction of the
oxalic acid duty from cents to 1 1-2
cents per pound, Senators Borah,
Bristow, Crawford, Cummins, Jones,
LaFollette, Norris and Works, Repub-
licans, and Senator Poindexter, Pro-
gressive, joined the Democrats in
endorsing the proposed reduction. On
a subsequent vote, to increase the
per cent. Twelve Republicans voted
with the Democrats.
Democratic Senator's evinced
throughout the day the determination
OF the party managers to hold debate
to a minimum. No Democratic SEN
ators participated in general discus
sion further than to give information
as to the reasons for the reductions.
The Democrats have determined to
make few speeches, and to use their
efforts to minimize debate and hasten
final passage OF the bill.
Republican Senators criticised re-
peatedly the character Of the estimates
made by the Democratic leaders as
the basis for the reduced duties. Sew
eral minor errors i'm the tariff hand
book" prepared by Chairman Sim
mons and his staff of experts, gave
the Republicans an opportunity to
question the authenticity of many
estimates and to declare that the
Democrats had no adequate idea of
the amount Of revenue that would be
raised under the bill
Senators Lodge and Jones failed in
their effort to prevent the adoption of
a proposed duty of 5 per cent. on
aragols. from which cream of tartar
Is made. Senator Lodge also pposed
vigorously, but without success, the
proposed duty on collodion, from
which celluloid is made. He dcclar-
ed it would put American manufac-
turcrs at great disadvantage.
The plan Of the Democrats to take
coal tar products and coal tar distil-
lates from the free list and place
them under duties ranging from
per cent to 10 per cent. was opposed
by Senator Smoot, but without avail.
He declared that they were the raw
material of American manufacturers.
His amendment to the two schedules
covering these subjects, were defeat
ed, the first 80 to 2S and the second
40 to 80.
Senator Johnson, Of Maine, who was
in charge of the Democratic bill dur
ing consideration of the chemical
schedule, justified the increases the
committee had made on the ground
that they imposed revenue tax on
chemicals that could be taxed without
affecting American indus
try.
The reading of the bill probably
will give way again tomorrow to open
debate, with Senator Weeks, of Mass
as chief speaker on the Re-
publican side. Senator Thornton, Dem
ocrat, gave notice today he would
speak Monday.