Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-04
Anti Revisionists in Congress
Not Disturbed Over Move
ment
pRoeREss,vEs NOT TOGETHER
Can Not Agree on Any Definite Plan
of Aetion-surplus in Treasury May
Have to BE Drawn Upon If Expen.
dituraa of Congress are Maintained
Might Sessions May Be Necessary.

Representative Stevenson Is circulat-
ing asking for caucus on the tariff
question. Mr.. STEVENSON and some OF
the Northwestern members are OF the
opinion that If the republicans would
hold caucus Speaker Cannon and the
republican leaders would y forced to
ask the president to call an extra ses-
sion to revise the tariff.
The weakness Of the revision move
ment is. that the tariff reformers are
not agreed upon any plan for a revis-
ion OF the tariff. Some Of them think
that an extra session should be called
for the purpose, while others believe
that the matter should be taken up at
q special meeting OF the ways and
means committee to be held after the
adjournment Of congress.
Those who favor special meeting
OF the ways and means committee In
eist that there is no use keeping all
the members of congress in Washing
ton, as the bill must be formulated by
the ways and means committee before
anything can be done with 1t in open
house. If an extra session be called,
AL but the members of the committee
would be- compelled to sit idly in their
seats while the COMMITTEES was working
on the bill and thus neglect their pri-
waite business for no purpose.
Aside from a disagreement among
the revisionists on the method that
should be employed in bringing about
the end sought, they are for from
being harmonious as to what sched-
'ules should be revised. The Massa-
chusetts members ere demanding free
hides, while the western contingent
are uncompromisingly opposed to this
change in the tariff. They realize
that free hides would not appeal to
the farmers and stock raisers.
What the western delegations are In
terested in is a reduction of the rate
upon steel and manufactured products.
This suggestion IS spurned by the east
ern revisionists and they prefer to have
the Dingley tariff undisturbed rather
than to revise it in that direction and
thus endanger the prosperity Of some
of their own Industries.
W4InILACS0 uIIL0ISllCSS dulOuE Tie re-
visionists all the standpatters are do
nngis leaning back in their seats and
smiling complacently. When approach
ed by some Of the more liberal mem
bers on the tariff question the stand
patters merely say: when you have
reached an agreement as to particular
schedule to be revised we are ready to
discuss the matter"
There is another question that is at
present agitating the minds Of the
leaders in congress and is giving them
no little concern.
This is the matter OF economy in APP
preparations. With the increase in the
salaries OF the members of congress,
the practical surety of a service PEN
sion law, increased pay for regular and
rural mail carriers, large appropria-
lions for the naval defense, and a big
river and harbor bill, those astute lead
ers who generally know what they are
talking about predict that the surplus
1t present held in the treasury will
have to be drawn upon If all this large
amount of money Is to be appropriated
by congress.
Then here comes the government
clerks who are demanding increases
in their wages, which demand has the
backing of President Roosevelt.
But for all these increases there
must BIS money to meet the necessary
expenditures and the wiseacres in con-
grass are beginninO to cast a look of
Gloom. lest the condition Of the coun-
try's finances is placed in a very en-
barassed position.
II takes water to make the bill grind.
and there is fear lest there be
drought, which will stop the wheels OF
and necessitate the cutting
down Of further appropriations.
BY the present progress of legislation
in the senate the upper body will be
compelled to hold nightly sessions in
order to complete its business by
March 4. Up to this time, the senate
has passed only two appropriation bills.
Among the bills which must be passed
nv the senate in the next five weeks
are the District Of Columbia, military,
river and harbor, agri-
cultural, military academy. naval APP
and deficiency bills.
The Brownsville debate has taken up
almost the entire time of the senate.
The house has passed five or SIX APP
bills, altho it is behind Its
,,sual record, and may be compelled TO
hold nightly sessions. 1t is true that
the senate has frequently passed Two
or three bills in one day, but there are
! number of bills which the senate
will not be able to dispose Of without
debate, and 1t looks as
tbo the upper branch will have to work
wartime If they wish to dispose of all
the LEGISLATION which will be necessary
eor the proper conduct OF the govern
ment before the present session ex-
pires. =,
Until the river and harbor. bill is
passed no consideration will be given
the ship subsidy. Chairman Burton
has secured the consent OF the speaker
to give. his bill place on the mousse
calendar ahead OF the ship subsidy
bill.
with the river and harbor bill out
Of way Mr.. Burton will then be in a
position to give his attention to the
shin subsidy bill. The member from
Ohio makes no secret Of his opposition
to ship subsidy legislation and Will
become active when the measure Is be-
fore the house. In his attitude toward
this bill Mr. Burton is opposed to the
but this does not seem
= give him much concern. The presl-