Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-06-18
WISCONSIN SENATOR ASKS TO CUT
DOWN FILIPINO CIGARS AND
ALDRICH AGREES.
PETTY POLITICS HINTED AT.
Change is Not Made Until Eastern Sem
ator Asks for It and Burkett De-
nounceS Committee.
BADGER IS SATISFIED, HOWEVER.

WASHINGTON. D. c., June 10
That the Senate committee on finance
has been engaged in playing "a game of
petty politics" was today deEantly
charged in the Senate by Senator Bur-
kett of Nebraska. The assertion was
made in connection with report by the
committee reducing from 150,000,OOO to
100000 the number of cigars which
may be imported free of duty annually
from the Philippines.
This change had been arrived at by
the committee at a meeting held early
today and was the result of representa-
tons by Senator Buckley of Connec-
ticut, with an important product of
whose state the Philippine tobacco i'm
portation would conflict. Senator La
Toilette had previously presented an
amendment reducing the number to TO-
100000 and the Nebraska senator found
in the action of the committee dis
elimination in favor of Buckley against
La Toilette. This was the reason for
Senator Bulkeley's outburst, and he
spoke with apparently strong feeling.
La Toilette Takes Floor.
AS soon as the committee had brought
III us amendment senator La fOllette
took the floor. Expressing qualification
that the finance committee had reduced
the number of free cigars to the extent
of 100000 less than was called for
by his amendment, Mr.. La Toilette said
he was encouraged to change his amend
ment so as to provide for the admission
of only 100000 and he did so.
1t was then that Mr.. Burkett took the
floor. Roundly denouncing the finance
committee, he declared that its action in
making changes in the Philippine amend
ment was sufficient to cause senator's to
lose confidence in it. The original amend
ment, he said, had been brought into the
Senate as approved by the President but
in face of that fact the committee had
brought in its recommendation for re
duction to 100000 in accordance with
Mr.. Bulkeley's request.
He pointed out that the number was
100000 below the reduction called for
by the La Toilette amendment and in
this circumstance found cause for COM
plant. ''This," he said. ''is a matter
too important to juggle with, and it
looks to me like a game of petty poll
tics"
''There is no mystery about it." protest
ed Mr.. Aldrich, "and no politics except
a desire on the part of the committee to
do the right thing and above everything
else to pass this BILL
Try to Hang Up "Bob?"
''It was also another effort to hang the
senator from Wisconsin up in the air
somewhere" suggested Mr.. Burkette.
mo disposition of that kind" prompt
ly responded the chairman of the finance
committee.
1T would not be possible for the COM
mittee to do that" said the Wisconsin
senator.
Il have cast good many votes of
lack of confidence in the work of the
finance committee" said Mr. Burkett
What right has the committee got to
report a bill and ask us to legislate upon
it when they have not given it enough
attention and investigation to justify
them in bringing it in here? | submit
that the manner and method by which it
has been done does justify us in taking
the opportunity to vote Il lack of conf
dence in this committee. This same sort
of thing has occurred too many times. :"
Senators Dick, Gallinger and Depew
defended the committee. Senator Depew
doubted the real strength of the de-
mand for tariff revision, and said if that
demand had not been referred to in the
Republican platform he believed there
would not have been a loss of a single
electoral vote.
Saying he had intended to vote for
a decrease of the number of free cigars
from the Philippine islands, without
regard to the source OF that suggestion"
Senator Oliver said he proposed to vote
for the amendment without regard to
whether they came from the committee
or anywhere else.
Aldrich Makes Caustic Reply
Further replying to the criticisms, Mr.
Aldrich said:
There are some men whose condemn
alton is the highest commendation." He
declared he had done his duty in refer
ence to this bill, and commended the
course taken by the Republican mem
bers of his committee. He added that
he did not object to senators taking
course to conform to their own views
The committee would change its views,
he said, when senators could bring forth
any testimony to show that the commit
tee had made a mistake.
Second Amendment Rejected.
A vote was taken on the La Toilette
amendment reducing the number of free
cigars from 100000 to 60,OOO,OOO and
it was rejected, 80 to ~. The Repub.
Leans voting in favor of the amendment
were Senators Borah, Bristow, Brown.
Burkett. Clapp, Cummins, Dolliver and
La Toilette.