The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-15

Washington, March 14.-Both houses
of congress will meet in extraordinary
session at noon tomorrow. 1t will be
the beginning of the Sixty first con-
gress, and the first act of importance
in the house will be the organization
of that body for business. The senate
is already organized.
Later the senate will begin the re-
organization of it's standing commit
tees, and until this is accomplished
little business will be undertaken.
The house looks for an active open
ing. With a fight on the rules in
prospect, in addition to the election OF
speaker and other officers, Monday
bids fair to be much crowded day
Cannon Has Cinch.
The action of the republican caucus
makes certain the reelection of
Speaker Cannon and of the other
house officers, but there is still doubt
in the minds Of some as to just what
may be done with reference to the
rules. If the insurgents and their DEM
ocratic allies should win, the program
for the Introduction and committee
consideration Of the tariff bill might
be different from what it would be if
the stand-patters prevail.
If Speaker Cannon's friends are VIC
torious in the rules fight, the presi-
dents message on the tariff will be
received Tuesday and the bill for re-
vision of the tariff will be introduced
Immediately. The speaker will then
appoint a committee on ways and
means and the bill will be referred to
that committee.
Old Men Favored.
1t is understood that if the selec-
tion of the committee is left to the
speaker he will designate all the old
members who were reelected. This
would leave but one vacancy, that
caused by the retirement of Mr..
Bonynge of Colorado, and it is init
mated that Representative Mondell of
Wyoming will be chosen for that po-
sition
AS soon as practicable, within a day
or two after 1t is reported, the tariff
bill will be taken up and the debate,
which will last from two to four
weeks, will be launched
begin considering the tariff until after
the house bill has been transferred t,
the senate, the committee on finance
will discuss the subject so as to be-
come well acquainted with it.
Measures in Sight.
Every effort will be made in both
houses to restrict legislation to the
tariff, but it is possible that the bill
providing for the next census and a
resolution changing the date of the
inauguration of the president from
March 4 to some later date will be
considered.
The leaders, however, insist that the
quickest action on the tariff can be
obtained by holding congress exclu-
sively to that subject, and contend that
the business interests of the country
which are affected by the uncertainty
regarding duties are paramount to all
other considerations.
One of the most important features
of the tariff bill are it's numerous diff
ferences from the present law in
phraseologH These changes have been
made to clear up any ambiguity in the
measure conform with the difficulties
of the courts and the board of ap-
praisers.
Major Lord Talks.
Major H. L. Lord, United States
army, who has been detailed with the
committee on ways and means, in
charge of information during the pres
yicin
mittee during the Dingley revision.
Major Lord said today that the most
persistent argument advanced in ia
VCr of the creation of a tariff COM
mission was that the congressional
committee having the tariff legislation
in charge had neither the information
nor the time nor means to secure the
information necessary properly to
draft revenue bill. He said the
work Of gathering information began
months in advance Of the adoption of
the house resolution last May, author
1zing expenditures in the preliminary
tariff inquiry
"One exceedingly important feature
of the work was the consideration of
the court decisions that have affected
the revenue" said Major Lord "and
the recommendation of phraseologv
that would meet these difficulties. The
committee on this work had the as
slstance of Thomas H. Dougherty, as
sistant counsel, United States treas
ury, from the office of the general ap-
praisers. New York
How It Was Done.
AT the request of the committee
the state department sent out circular
letters to its foreign representatives
calling for reports of industrial con-
dit1ons. The subjects of foreign labor
and cost of production We're covered
IN detail, and the committee was able
to corroborate or disprove statements
made along those lines.
This information was gathered pre-
iiminary to the public hearings. Rep
el