The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-05


cratic majority of the ways and means
committee voted unanimously To-Day "
agree to President Wilson's final de-
cisfon as to the sugar schedule anu
adjourned until Monday. The mayor
ttv will agree either to free sugar or
a low duty to be eliminated eh'ireiS
I'm three years.
Washington, April 5.-The new
tarifl hill underwent a careful ex-
animation today at the hands of mem
bers of the senate finance committee
While the anti-free sugar forces from
Louisiana and other cane and beet
sugar states were making an effort TO
raIiv enough strength to defeat Presl-
dent Wilson'S compromise plan, the
senate leaders were analyzing all con-
tested parts of the bill, SO they can tell
President Wilson tomorrow Whether
they can accept it without change
The report of the ways and means
majority which will be submitted to
the house to accompany the bill Will
claim an average reduction of so per
cent on the entire bill as compared
with the present law. This it will be
stated is lower than the average re-
duction made in any tariff Dill since
and including the Walker bill IN the
fifties.
The action of Chairman Underwood
of the ways and means committee IN
turning the committees Dill over 10
the senate for examination is almost
unprecedented in tariff history, II Is
claimed Senate leaders insisted they
should be consulted in the preparation
of the tariff revision and President
Wilson has made efforts to bring the
senate, house and White House into
accord on the bill before it is intro
duced While the house tariff makers
have exercised their constitutional
right to prepare the tariff revision Dill,
it will be satisfactory to the president
and senate, it is believed, before beng
introduced. Indications today were
that President Wilson's compromise
plan on the sugar tariff prooap1y
would be accepted finally in the SEN
ate This proposes to reduce the pres
emf duty of 1.34 cents per pound on
Cuban sugar to 1 cent a pound. Cuban
sugar is allowed to enter at 20 per
cent less duty than sugar from other
countries. At the end of three years
it is proposed to admit all sugar free
of duty.
Chairman Underwood today reiter
ated the committee had completed its
long task and that any change sug-
gested by the president could be made /
in a few minutes
"All tariff legislation is compro-
mise legislation" said Mr.. Underwood.
when our bill goes to the congress it
will have the unanimous endorsement
of the committee"
The com mittee today also consid-
cred administrative features of the
bill. The bill will eliminate the maxi |
mum and minimum tariff of the pres
ent law and authorize the president to
negotiate reciprocity treaties with ma
tions Wiling to make tariff conces- |
sions to the United States. Such
treaties, however, must have the ap-
provaI of both houses of congress, it |
is said.
Reciprocity Assured.
The fullest measure of reciprocity
was assured in a provision written in |
to the tariff bill by the ways and
this provision the maximum and mini |
mum tariff now in force is abolished and i
the president is authorized to nego-
tiate reciprocity treaties with all ma
tions who are willing to make tariff |
concessions to the United States
The only check on the action of the
president in liking duties is by con-
sresS, both houses of which must ra tifv
any such commercial treaties that the
may make.
In the view of members of wavs and
means committee the enactment of the
tariff bill will open the way for new
Canadian reciprocity arrangement more
satisfactory than that of two years ago
The president is not limited as to |
rates. IF he chooses he can establish
free trade relations said a member
of the committee today, provided he |
can gain the consent of congress-
This action by the ways and means
committee followed swiftly the plea of |
Governor Foss to the Massa chusetts
legislature TO memorialize congress 70
enact a reciprocity law.
1t is an Acknowledgement of the no
cessity of reciprocity which had baer
advocated consistently by the New
York American whenever tariffs hava
been in the making within the last fan
years. 1t is generally agreed TODAY bv
members of congress that recinrooi+r
will confer vast benefits upnn al,
classes of American citizens, fnclndiTa
farmers. The New York Auerica,,Fss
long advocacy of such a policy 80
widely commented upon and a nunba
of senators commended it with entbrs-
iasm.
Early in the day Chairman Trpdar-
wood OF the ways and means commit
tee When asked If reciprocity ar
rangement would be adopted sold.
I'VE have agreed upon a nro1isio,,
that Will enable this. the broades+ kind |
of trade expansion by mutual copso,.+ = ;, |
Later the correspondent learned +[a+
this provision was not only recinrocit,
but more sweeping reciprocitv ar
rangement than has yet been ma17a -,
any congress. "S
Consent of President.
1t was learned also thai +ba
agreement was reached with tba 60, |
knowledge and consent of the nrasida-,t
and that he will use all the noIEa - |
his office to carry it through conprass
The president has satisfied bi1,se1t
through reports made to him by Sena-