Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1912 — LA FOLLETTE WOOL BILL IS PASSED [ARTICLE]

LA FOLLETTE WOOL BILL IS PASSED

Senate Defeats Cummins’ Plan and Penrose Compromise. RECORDED VOTE IS 39 TO 27 Measure Introduced by Wisconsin Senator Is Put Through by Coalition of Insurgent Republicans and Democrats. f Washington, July 26.—The senate, after setting in committee of the whole, defeated the Cummins’ wool bill by 34 to 32, adopted the Penrose compromise measure and finally passed the La Follette wool bill of 1911, the Democrats and Insurgents voting together. The La Follette bill was adopted by a vote of 39 to 27 less than two hours after the Republican leaders had achieved what they believed was a victory when a compromise submitted by Senator Penrose was passed in the conihiittee of the whole. The Cummins’ substitute wool tariff bill which represented the views of many of the “progressive" senators was defeated when it came to a vote in the senate. Practically all Progressives, voted for. it. The measure was defeated, 57 to 14. The senators supporting it were Borah, Bourne, Bristow, Clapp, Crawford, Cummins, Gronna, Jones, Kenyon, La Follette. Nelson, Poindexter, Townsend and Works.

Democrats Aid Slaughter. All Democrats and the balance of the Republicans voted against the Cummins bill. The defeat of this substitute had been anticipated, and the knowledge that a compromise measure had been prepared by the Republican leaders, to be offered as soon as the Cummins bill was disposed of, aided in preventing the so-called regular Republicans from supporting the Cummins bill. Senator Penrose, acting on behalf of the Republican members of the finance committee, offered the Republican substitute as soon as the Cummins amendment had been voted down. It was the bill that had been prepared by Senator Lippitt of Rhode Island. Senator Penrose made a formal statement as to the effect the new bill would have if adopted. He said It would make many Important reductions in the present tariff rates on wool and woolen products. Bill Was Passed in 1911.

The action of the senate undoubtedly means that another wool bill will be sent up to the president for his signature or veto. The La Follette bill, as adopted, is identical with the one passed by the senate at the last session. The Democratic wool bill passed by the house at'this session is word for word the bill which the Democrats adopted in the house last year. When the senate and hohse conferees meet on the La Follette and the Democratic bill, they will have to consider the two same bills presented to the conference committee in 1911. At that time, after prolonged discussion, La Follette made concessions and the Democrats met him half way. The result was that the wool bill was vetoed by the president on the ground that there should be no tariff legislation until the tariff board had made Its report.