The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-20
VOTE ON REED SHOOT
Case Of the Mormon Senator Is
to Be Settled at Last.
RIVERS BILL MAY BE BLOCKED
Senate Additions unpopuIar In House.
Tosa wearers at Sea Over Minority
Leadership-La FoIlstts Wants spe-
eial Session on Tariff.
BY CHARLES W. ARTHUR


Il Washington, Feb. 20.-IS Special. Ito
morrow Is the date set for the senate
to vote on the question Of whether
Reed Smoot Of Utah is entitled to re-
main a member of the body or not.
4 The Mormon senator's case has drag.
ged along ever since he was elected
four years ago, action having been de-
layedt many times on one pretext or
another. Now, however, tt appears that
there is no way by which, the agree
ment to vote tomorrow can be abro.
gated and that at last senators must
go on record for or against the man
from Utah. The general impression is
that the resolution denying Mr.. Shoots
right to retain Ills membership in the
senate will be defeated aud that he
win continue to hold his place until the
expiration Of his term two years hence.
1t is not certain that this impression Is
well founded, however. While he is a
prominent member Of the Mormon
church, Mr.. Smoot has not only never
practlced polygamy, but has done what
he could to abolish it. The opposition
to him, though. contends that the nero
fact that he is connected with the
church is sufficient grounds for his ex.
pulslon. Personally Mr.. Smoot is pop
ular among his colleagues.
Waterways Bill Threatened.
Now a new danger besets the rivers
and harbors appropriation bill, that big
money measure in which the whole
country is interested. The senate coul-
mittee on commerce In considering the
bill before reporting 1t to the senate
added a number of amendments which
Chairman Burton of the house commit
tee defeated while the measure was up
In that body. The total appropriation
carried by the bill as 1t passed the
house was $S3,O00,OoO. and the senate
committee added several millions to
that sum. Mr.. Burton is credited with
a determination to see the bill killed
rather than permit the senate to make
these additions, and it is certain that
a vigorous struggle will take place in
the conference committee before the
matter is finally disposed of. 1t has
been shown that the house Is with Mr..
Burton, but the chances are that ma
jority of the members would not fol-
low him to the extent Of defeating the
bill.
Democratic Senators Puzzled.
The Democrats of the senate are all
at sea over the matter OF the selection
of a successor to Mr.. Blackburn OF
Kentucky, the titular minority leader.
whose senatorial term expires on
March 4. While well Informed people
on the outside generally credit Senator
Bailey of Texas with more OF the quail
tiles of leadership than any OF his
Democratic colleagues, the develop
ments which have followed the cam
paign against Mr.. Bailey In his home
state have been such as to make It uu.
likely that he could he elected TO the
leadership without fight The inves-
dgation which has been in progress In
Texas for weeks has brought out moth.
ing more damaging to Senator Bailey
than that he borrowed money OF the
president of the waters-PierGe oil
company and repaid it, but some of
the Democratic senator's think that
the effect of the wide publicity which
has been given the improved charges
against him has been such AZ TO make
1t inadyisable to promote him to the
titular leadership. Mr.. CIiberson, the
other senator from Texas. has been
frequently mentioned in connection
with the place, but it is regarded as
certain that he would decline to accept
it If by so doing he would seem TO be
taking advantage of Mr.. Bailey,s pres
ent position. Senator Morgan has sug-
gested that the position Of leader be
abolished and that every man act for
himself. THAT is an excellent PLAN
said one minority senator today.
La Toilette For Revision.
Senator La Toilette Of Wisconsin has
followed the lead of his colleague and
political enemy, Senator Spooner. IN
declaring in favor Of tariff revision
La Toilette has gone still further. how
ever, and has come out squarely for
special session of congress for the pur-
pose Of making changes in the exist
ing customs schedules Incidentally
all the Wisconsin members OF the
house, with one exception. also have
agreed to support a movement for
special session to revise the tariff. It
is foregone conclusion that no such
session will be called, however. The
stand patters are so firmly Intrenched
that they can afford to laugh at the
revisionlsts in their own party. Pres
ident Roosevelt thinks changes should
be made, but does not believe it pos
sible or wise from the party stand
point to attempt to have those changes
made in the year preceding presI-
Dental election.
Mann ersat obisetor.
Representative Mann OF Chicago has