The Washington times., 1907-12-01
Democracy Deserts
Tariff Issue on Cock
rams Motion.
Hay
Urges Demand for
Revision Bill.

Democracy in the House of Repre-
Sentaives went back on its big issue,
tariff revision, yesterday afternoon
when it voted TO adjourn its caucus
insteld of acting on a resolution in
PRODUCED by Representative James
Hay Of Virginia, provided that the
Democrats refuse to allow any legiS-
lation under unanimous consent in
this session unless the Committee on
Ways and Means should report to
the House for immediate action a
bill revising the present tariff rates.
Mr.. Hays resolution, if adopted,
would have meant that not one of
the bills that are usually enacted
into Law by unanimous consent
could have been passed by this ses-
sion OF Congress- until the Ways and
Means Committee should have come
around TO the Democratic Persua-
sion on the tariff question.
When Mr. Hay called for a vote on
his resolution, the motion to adj
iOurn was made by Bourl1e Cock
ran of New York, who has been a
great platform orator for tariff re-
vision.
Tariff the Issue
In explanation OF. his resolution. 2Ir.
hay said. after the cancus.
II Introduced It because ana con
wheel that the tariff VIII be the issue
IN the next national campaign The Re
/ publicana might not change the tariff
rates, ever. II the Democrats would OBJ
feet 10 TIE transaction Of any and all
business under unanimous consent But
/ the Democracy could not do better.
think, than 20 call 10 the attention OF
| the country each day IN the manner I
suggested the fact that It wants the
tariff revised. and that II means 70 &C
complIsh revision IN tne eno-
While such a course might entail
some Hghs personal sacrifice on the part
Of members among the Democrats who
want TO have bills passed affecting only
1 their districts, I think that IN such a
matter party interests should be placed
above personal interests.
"Of course, the adjournment, taken ar
! the time It -yas. leaves my resolution
Enacted upon
Should Frame Policies.
John sharp Williams. the minority
! leader. when asked what he thought OF
/ the failure Of the Democrats 70 take
| this opportunity to declare for tariff
1 revision. said:
Il think it means the Democrats IL
the House believe the policies 81 The
party should be framed by the national
J convention and not by them
The adjournment. as It was taken inn
/ mediately after the election of men L
/ offices in the House controlled by TIE
/ Democrats. prevented Air. Jones, Of Vir-
glnia. from presenting a resolution he
had prepared providing that the selec-
/ ton Of Democrats FOR the committees
\ of the House be pa. in the hands al
| the Speaker instead Of IN the hands OF
\ the minority leader. Mr.. Jones. in dis
4 cussing the matter later. said
/ L am convinced hat another caucus
4
/ I have been approached by two dozer
/ members who have assured me this
evening that they VIII sign a call for
another caucus. 1t requires only TWEEN
! ty-five signatures to secure a caucus
/ Who is this man Bourke Cochran, any.
way, that he should move an adjourn
ment at sucn time when you consider
that he was away from Washington
practically the whole Of the last session
! Of Congress?"
Revision of Schedule.
As soon as John Sharp Williams had
! been renominatAd for the SpeakershiI
by the caucus without opposition. and
/ the voting on minor positions had beer
! concluded. Mr.. Hay offered the follow
/ ing resolution and asked that Il b,
adopted by the caucusi
! Resolved: That until the Committee
! or Ways and Means shall report to the
/ House for immediate action a bill fol
! the revision OF the tariff schedules. IL
shall be the policy OF the Democratic
minority in the House Of Representa-
/ tives to refuse unanimous consent fol
the transaction Of any and all bust
ness.
Resolved further, That the leader
of the minority be authorized and re
( quested TO designate each day mem
Der OF the minority to enforce the
aforesaid policy by refusing all re
/ quests FOR unanimous consent"
AS a substitute for this, Representa-
tive Robert Henry OF Texas offered q
resolution that a committee Of five
members be named by the chairman Of
the caucus to designate the variou:
questions on which the minority parb
should make a vigorous fight Against
the RepuSlicars in this Congress. Thi,
l CCci tinued on Page Twelve,)