Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-17
EXTRA SESSION STORY
Report That One May Be
Called
TO REVISE TARIFF
PROBABLY AReSE FROM THE
SPEAKERSHIP CONTEST.
Rumor of Bargain Between Cannon
and Babcock Not Believed-Case
TO REVISE TARIFF

A great many conflicting stories are going
the rounds relative to the Presidents al
legged intention to call an extra session OF
Congress soon after March T. to revise the
tariff and do all kinds of things Some of
the stories are embodied with elaborate de.
tail, intended to give "verisimltude of
fact to an otherwise bald and upconyincine
narrative
The best information sbtainable in con.
gressional and official circles in Washington
puts the case in this light:
That the President is more inclined to
the creation of tariff commission to in
vestigate the subject than to an effort to
revise the tariff out Of hand.
That such commission could not possi-
bly, complete its work in time to report to
special session of Congress.
That the talk Of possible extraordinary
session of Congress grows out of the Presi-
dents desire to accomplish something in
the way of antitrust legislation at the
short session. failing which he might call
an extra session to take up the subject
Origin of Extra Session Gossip.
The renewal of the extra session-tariff
revision-talk is connected with the latest
move in the speakership contest namely,
the withdrawal of Mr.. Babcock from the
delegation into Mr.. Cannon's column of
strength. That event occurred late Satur-
day afternoon in milwaukee,, after Mr. Bah
cock had been in conferences with his own
delegation, having previously tested his
strength In other quarters and finding that
the best interests of the west, according to
his statement. would be conserved by the
solid support of the west for Mr.. Cannon.
Further impetus was given to the Cannon
boom the same afternoon by the declaration
IF hn
Dakota delegations that they would sup
port Mr.. Cannon. The withdrawal of Mr..
Babcock left some scattered votes in Iowa,
Indiana, Nebraska and Maryland free to
swing into the Cannon column If they de-
sire, as they probably will.
In congressional and political circles here
the BELIEF is expressed that Mr.. Cannon
will be elected Speaker of the Fifty-eighth
Congress. So general is this belief that to-
day the gossip drifted away from the
speakership contest and centered about the
committee chairmanships and the minor
House offices. fpS-4 q
The principal topic Of discussion, in the
newest phase of the case, related to the
Craftsmanship of the ways and means COM
mittee. 1t grew out of statement, ema-
mating from utra-protection sources, that
the opinion was held in those quarters that
Mr.. Babcock had made a bargain with Mr.
Cannon to receive the craftsmanship of the
ways and means committee in return for
the support of Mr.. Babcock at a critical
moment.
Mr.. Cannon's Position.
That statement did not receive general
credence, for the main reason that it was
not believed that Mr.. Cannon is committed
to the tariff-revision policy which Mr.. Bab-
cock represents, and which would be inau-
gurated if he were chairman. Mr.. Cannon
has not been, and it is not believed that he
now is, an ardent tariff reviSoniSt.
He has repeatedly said within twelve
month that he would not go out to meet
the question of tariff revision; that it was
not yet here. He Is holding back in the
traces against the long pull, the strong pull
and the pull altogether that the revisionists
are endeavoring to exert. The appointment
of Mr.. Babcock to the Craftsmanship of the
committee would certainly be regarded as
the adoption by the new Speaker of the
Babcock tariff policy.
Mr.. Babcock, in a telegram from his
home In Wisconsin, has denied that he
spoke for the President in the statements
quoting him as saying that the President
would call an extra session of Congress to
revise the tariff. 1t is thought here that
he also will refute the insinuation that he
has made bargain with Mr.. Cannon for
the ways and means Craftsmanship. The
effect of the circulation of the latter report
is calculated to ALLEVIATE the support of the
east from Mr.. Cannon, and may serve to
cause Mr.. Cannon to come out in decla-
ration of the conservative tariff position
which he is known to be taking at this
time.
Wisconsin to Be Cared For.
Wisconsin will be pretty well cared for in
the next Congress, in the natural order of
things. The state will have five chairman
ships of committees. representation on the
ways and means and appropriations and the
office of sergeant-at-arms of the House, to-
gether with few trif1es of House patron
age ION the side.''
The chairmanships, if the regular order
of seniority is followed, will be these: Ju-
dietary, Mr.. Jenkins; insular affairs. Mr..
cooper; railways and canals, Mr.. Davidson;
mines and mining, Mr.. Brown; District or
CoIumbia, Mr.. Babcock. A Wisconsin va
cancy Will exist on -appropria ations, and Mr..
Babcock now is on ways and means. 1t Is
tnought there will be no change In the
Office of sergeant-at-arms, now held by Mr..
Henry Casson of Wisconsin.
The next House Office is the clerkship Of
the House, held for several terms by Mr..
Mcdowell of Pennsylvania. Aside from his
personal popularity with old members of
the House, which Is undoubted, Mr.. Nc
DoWeil Will probably have the answering
support of the Pennsylvania delegation AS
pennsylvania is expected to lose the chair
manship of appropriations committee, be-
longing by right of senierityzto the keystone
state, but which is expe cted to go to In
diana, 1t is believed that the delegation will
insist on saving Mr. Mcdowell at least.
The doorkeepership, held by Mr.. Frank
Lyon OF New York Will proba bly, again be
given to him, and New Jersey will claim
a continuance Of patrenase in the chief
elerkship, held by Mr.. Browning.