Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1913 — TARIFF REVISION FIRST ON PROGRAM [ARTICLE]

TARIFF REVISION FIRST ON PROGRAM

Special Session of Congress to Meet April 7th Will Look After Other Matters Later.

Washington, March 18.—Democratic members of the new senate finance committee today agreed on a plan of tariff action that will have important bearing upon the downward revision plans of President Wilson and the house tariff leaders. In a conference participated in by all democrats on the committee, except Senators Stone and James, a policy of close co-operation with the house was outlined through which it is hoped that the house bills can be made acceptable to the senate and pushed through that body with but little amendment and without the delay of committee hearings. Senate leaders stated tonight that there is general harmopy among the democrats of that body upon the tariff program. Conferences with Chairman Underwood, of the house ways and means committee, will be asked for during the next week or two and the democratic membership of the senate will be canvassed thoroughly before the extra session convenes.

The members of the committee ex pressed confidence that the senate itself would follow the lead of the committee in all tariff matters. The plan will be to take all questions into caucus and it is believed that the caucus will support the committee. The present democratic strength in the senate is 50, to 44 republicans and progressives, and it is counted that even in case of the filling of the two Dlinois vacancies by the election of republicans and the possible defection of some democrats on certain schedules, there still would be enough votes to put through any bill agreed on by caucus with the controlling vote held by the democratic vice-presi-dent, Mr. Marshall

Senator Simmons, the pew chairman of the finance committee, presided over the meeting today. He made no formal statement of his position, but expressed a willingness to fall in with the house plans of revision. He was appointed chairman of a sub-committee to confer with the democratic members of the ways and means committee of the house, who are now rapidly completing the tariff bills. The finance committee practically decided to have no senate tariff hearings because of the extensive conducted by the house committee and the debate that occurred during the last congress.