The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-16
PLAYING CAME OF
 PETTY POLITICS Senator Burkett Takes Issue on
 Philippine Matters FREE CIGARS REDUCED Acrimonious Debate Occurs Over Pro- vision In Tariff Bill Cutting Down Cigars Imported Free From
 the Philippines.

Washington, June 15.-That the Senate committee on finance has been engaged in playing a game of petty politics. was today defiantly charged in the Senate by Senator Burkett of Nebraska The as- sertion was made in connection with a report by the committee reducing from 1b0, ,0oo00O to 70,0o000O the number of cigars which may be imported free of duty an- nually from the Philippines. This change had been arrived at by the committee at meeting held early today, and was the result of the representations of Sen ator Bullley of Connecticut with an im- portant product of whose state the Philippine tobacco importation would conflict. Senator IAFollette had pre- viously presented an amendment reducing the number ot 75,00o.oO0, and the Ne braska senator foundAin the action of the committee discrimination in favor of BullSley against LaFollette. This was the reason for his outburst and he spoke with apparently strong feeling.
 As soon as the committee had brought In its amendment Senator LaFollette took the floor.
 
 committee had reduced the number of free cigars to the extent of 100000 less than was called for by his amendment. MT. LaFollette said he was encouraged to change his amendment so as to pro- vide for the admission of only 6000O, 600, and he did so
 It was then that MT. Burkett took the floor. Roundly denouncing the finance committee, he declared that it's action in making changes in the Philippine amend ment was sufficient to cause senators to lose confidence in 1t. The original amendment he said had been brought into the Senate as approved by the Pres ident, but in the face of that fact the committee had brought It's recommenda- ton to 100000 in accordance with MT. Bullxley's request. He pointed out that the number was 100000 below the reduc- ton called for by the LaFollette amend ment. and In this circumstance found complaint
 "In this," he said, lis a matter too important to juggle with. and it looks to me like game of petty politics."
 There Is no mystery about it." protest cd MT. Aldrich, "and no politics, except desire on the part of the committee to do the right thing and above everything else to pass this bill.'
 Tt was also another effort to hang the senator from Wisconsin up in the air somewhere" suggested MT Burkett
 No disposition of that kind" promptly responded the chairman of the finance
 
 the committee to do that" said the Wis consin senator.
 T have cast a good many votes of lacke of confidence in the work of the finance committee" said MT. Burkett
 What right has the committee got to report bill and ask us to legislate upon it when they have not given 1t enough attention and investigation to justify them in bringing it here? I submit the manner and method by which it has been done does justify us in taking the oppor- tunity to vote a lack of confidence 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 demand for the tariff revision, and said if that demand had not been rererred 10 In the republican platform he believed there would not have been a loss of a single electorate vote.
 Saying he had intended to vote for a decrease of the number of free cigars from the Philippines without regard to the source of that suggestion" Senator Oliver said he proposed to vote for amendments without regard whether they came froIA the committee or anywhere else. Further replying to the criticisms, MT. Aldrch said:
 There are some men whose condemna- tion Is the highest commendation." He l declared that he had done his duty in 1 reference to this bill. He commended 1 the course taken by the republican mem- bers of his committee, and did not ob- | ject to senators in taking a course to | conform to their own views. The com l mittee would change it's views, he said | when senators could bring forth any testi- mony to show they had made mistake.