New-York tribune., 1909-02-12
SENATE FOR HALE BILL
MEASURE TO MIKE KNO4
ELIGIBLE PASSED.
.uo,,,c Democrats HIiH Fight 1t, and
Judiciary Committee Mag
Make Trouble.
IRON The Tribune Bureau J

-,-.-t,rton. Feb. 1.-The Senate this after
= 15fhout debate or objection passed the
- hir- as amended by the COMMITTEES on
--st.,s-v- yhich is designed to make Philander
= 80 now Junior Senator from Pennsylvania,
,,5,,a for Secretary OF State in Mr. Taft
'-.si,s4 Il Is understood there viii be some
.os3r;on in tho House, and Representative
-,rt,ns. chairman Of the House Committee on
--s,-,arv. is quoted as opposed to the measure
--..-s vas a rImor about the Capitol to-day
- .5- Knox would not accept the place OF
.-.+.-v Of state even II the bill were passed.
=. ..is appears to be only a surmise- 1t is as
- hv some OF Mr.. Knox's friends that he
= ~ the opinion yesterday that the Hale bin
,o,id remove all the objections to his qualify
,az q. Secretary Of State. To-day he remained
,-az from the Capitol, presumably because he
s,s not wish his presence to hamper any Sena-
- vyho might see fit to oppose the measure
co-,s If Mr. Knox's friends fear that IL tfe Hale
Asr encounters much opposition in the House he
--sv decline to enter Mr.. Taft's Cabinet. but
,hsv say that this is pure conjecture
rssore being reported from the judiciary COM
-,,ttse the Hale bin was SO amended as to pre-
ut any reduction of the salary Of Secretary
macon which would have been the effect of the
measure as introduced. and also TO restore the
.,noluuoents Of the Secretary OF State after
March 4 1909 10 what they were in May. 1904
,.+,c- was before Mr.. Knox entered the Senate,
:. having been first appointed in June of that
-.s- and having taken his seat in December.
The olestion Of Mr. Knox's eligibility to hold
-. oescn Of Secretary Of State has started
,ssuinglv endless constitutional argument.
p-scticaIIv no other subject was discussed to-
-; and all day knots OF Representatives could
Re seen gesticulating wildly or listening intent
+ N some new version OF the situation 1t is
oh a rIln
.,,e t5ouse library for copies Of the Constitution
= 90 many legislators convinced that they
- so little about It. The lower body is more
-. tf7sr the Senate to divide itself on party
I,,ss and tonight found the Democrats in
.,-+s-, that Mr.. Knox should never be Secretary
. e.s.e while the majority Of the Republicans
,s-s for sdoptinE any legal means which might
,sve The country the services OF the leailie
S,-e4o- as an adviser of the coming President
.. ,..,inr Pepublican. however. is opposed
A.. - .c+ioa which will render the mooteo pro-
.,,.o-, N .he Constitution void He Is rep
-.ss,.a,iy,e Jenkins, Of Wisconsin. chairman oI
f,e Judiciary Committee. 10 which any Tesoiu-
g. :. -+,,is character must be referred Mr.
Jantirs holds that Il Is impossible Tor the sen
%. % 40 ANYTHING which will render Mr. Knox
-,.-s.,. - the cabinet The only solution sug-
- ~ him IS for Mr.. Knox 10 wait until his
-, l., the Senate expires, and then accept the
oe5ce In this view he Is supported by the Dem
ocrs+s on his committee, and there are TWO re
pubiicsn members who are also lncIheo 10
.s-,ee with him. As the membership. OF the COM
7,ittee-ss eighteen three Republicans allied with
4Ie six Democrats could effectually kH the
resolution. unless the House voted to discharge
the committee from further consideration Of the
measure. This is undoubtedly the action that
would be taken. as the House leaders. while not
committing themselves to the resolution, have
decided that II shall be left TO a vote or the
House Once on the floor, IT is predicted the
resolution would have clear sailing