The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-08
Speaker and Taft Will Confer
As to important Matters
Concerning Probable Legis-
Iation.
PLEDGES NOT EXPECTED
CANNON is COUNTED UPON TO
AID TARIFF REFORM BUT oP
POSE PLANS FOR REoRGANIzA-
TION OF HOUSE.

Washington, ID. c., Dec SIT now is
practically settled that Joseph G. Can
non will be speaker of the next house
OF representatives. He was warmly
received when the short session opened
yesterday and a number of the insur
gents who had talked of opposing his
reelection as speaker admitted they
had abandoned their opposition.
There is to be fight on rules,
which will be continued all through
the present session and which will
come to focus at the caucus which
will precede the extra session next
spring. Most of those who are OPP
posed to the present rules have con-
cluded Mr.. Cannon ought to be re-
elected on personal grounds, but that
at the same time the caucus ought to
retain more power in the hands of the
members themselves than is now per-
mitted.
1t is not believed Speaker Cannon
would refuse an election to that great
office merely because the caucus saw
fit to take away some of his power.
On the other hand. It is more than
ever evident that the speaker thinks
the present system is best for the
transaction of legislative business, and
he and his friends probably will op-
pose any change, although the speak
er has publicly announced that he will
bow to the will of his party associates
us expressed by majority vote in the
caucus.
Cannon and Taft to Confer.
Later in the week President-elect
Taft and Speaker Cannon are expect
ed to have conference which will be
one of vast Importance in its bearing
upon the policy of the next admins
tration. Vice President-elect Sherman
and Representative William B. McKin-
ley, of Illinois, who was at the head
of the Cannon presidential boom, were
callers at the White House today. They
assured the president that they had
made more or less of a canvass of the
house and that in their opinion there
was no disposition shown on the part
of the leaders, including Mr.. Cannon,
to embarrass the coming administra-
fion in the slightest degree.
On tho contrary the opinion was ex-
pressed that the tariff bill passed by
the house would be measure of real
revision.
The ways and means committee to-
day received authority to subpoena wit
nesses and put them under oath. 1t
will use this authority to summon
Aumber of free traders. tariff reform
ers and others who will be asked spe-
officially to suggest figures and to pre-
sent arguments for the lowest possible
rates.
This action of the house which was
taken with the hearty concurrence Of
the speaker. is held to be an indica-
tion of what may be expected in the
next house, because much the same
men will be in control and the same
policy will be followed
No Pledges Are Expected.
In the conference between the pres
tdent-elect and the speaker. it is not at
hll likely that one will make conditions
and the other make pledges. The two
men are too big and too powerful for
hny such proceeding. They are both
pain spoken, ana are personally
friendly. 1t is impossible that two
such men should get together and talk
as man to man without reaching def
mite understanding.
Mr.. Taft will lay down a broad gen.
pral principle, which is that the speak
br and every republican member of
The house of representatives is in hon
br bound to support and to fulfill ev-
Fry pledge made in the republican
platform at Chicago.
As head of the party. Mr.. Taft will
lell the speaker that tariff revision. the
postal savings banks, limitation of
railroad securities. reform in the fed
sral Injunction practice. and similar
things specified at Chicago are issues
which have been passed upon by the
highest tribunal in the party, and
which are not subject to any decision
Whatsoever by the committee on rules.
pr by the speaker. or by caucus OF con-
kressional representatives.
The action OF the Chicago conven-
hon. in the opinion OF the president
lCouffuro5 IN popo Ten