Evening star., 1909-05-21
Ask WHERE TAFT cot MS TIP
SENATORS WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT "JUNE 20" REMARK.
Suggest That Wish IL Father to
Thought Regarding End Of
Tariff Debate.

wonder where the President got his tip
about closing up the tariff work by June
20?' one OF group Of senators remarked
today
i reckon the wish was father to the
thought" suggested another. Maybe 1t
is case of absent treatment mental
suggestion or something Of that kind. I
am afraid it will take more than psyche
logical effort to stop some of the talk,
however"
Deep down in the hearts of senators
there lurks the fond. il faint. hope that
the President may be right. Unquestion-
ably, the Senate Is becoming as tired OF
the tariff debate as the country at large
is said to be- The trouble is that the
surest way to prolung debate in the Sem
ate is to appear to be trying to stop it.
No one knows this fact better than
Senator Aldrich. Just let some senator
has proceeded far enough and half the
Senate is on its feet in offended dignity,
with the sharp suggestion that debate
will cease when the Senate gets good
and ready. and not before. and don't
you forget 1t, or words to that effect
About Time to Vote.
Some senators are complaining that the
debate thus far surely might be consid-
cred as thrashing out all the fundamental
principles of tariff, in all their variegated
conceptions, suitable to all the factions.
and that it is about time to get down
to cases and vote.
Every day Senator Aldrich starts the
days labor inspired with the hope which
the morning begets, only to sink down de-
spairfngly into his chair a little while
later, as some senator takes up the thread
of general discussion where it was drop.
ped the day before.
The situation may change any day in
the twinkling of an eye. How often have
the Old-timers seen 1t blow up just that
way. One day there is apparently a hope
less tangle. no vote in sight. everybody
ugly and disputatious. going around chip
on-shoulder, and before nightfall a COM
piete agreement on day for vote and
the Senate as smiling as a basket OF
chips.
1t Is easy to recall now, way back in
the Cleveland administration, Senator
Harris dau.r .,ero Of blessed memory. standing
democratic side, vehemently declaring
that q certain unmentionable region
would freeze over before they could
pass the repeal Of the silver purchase
act, and the very next thing, presto, it
was all over.
And SO on down, through a long list
otrne5a OF memorable ta kfhts; the Cuban tariff
railway rate legislation and many other
instances.
Senator Aldrich Biding His Time.
So, Senator Aldrich Is bidine his time
he Is a patient soul when needs be
and letting them talk, assured that the
longest way around is the shortest way
across when dealing with the Senate.
He feels that the debaters will get tired
some day and agree to set date for a
vote.
Even II the Senate should vote on the
bill within a fortnight, however, it is
feared there will be long delays in con-
ference. The House and Senate are at
loggerheads over some very important
items In the bill, over which there is good
deal of earnestness, OF contention by the
respective bodies. It is going to take time
to resolve the differences.
The House will continue to mark time
until the Senate reaches final vote No
call for the return Of a quorum will be
sent out until the tariff bill is ready to
come back to the House. The Philippines
tariff bill can be closed up In a jiffy
and no trouble is expected over Porto
Rican legislation, while 1t is probable the
census bill will go over until next ses-
sion.