Evening star., 1909-06-15
Finance Committee Accused
of Playing ''Petty Politics.
BURKETT HIS CHAMPION
Bulkeley's Suggestion, Wisconsin
Senator's Idea, Adopted.
LATTER's PROPOSAL IGNORED
He Can Take Care of Himself and
Urges More Cutting of
Free Cigars.

An attempt to play petty politics. and
move in mysterious ways for the purpose
OF leaving up in the air. that arch re-
publican insurgent Senator La Toilette of
Wisconsin is the latest charge brought
against the Senate finance committee.
1t was Senator, Burkett of Nebraska,
another insurgent. who stirred up the
fuss this morning. 1t all grew out Of an
attempt on the part of Mr.. La Toilette
to have some innocent fun at the ex-
pense of Senator Aldrich, chairman of
the finance committee.
Last night the Wisconsin senator Of
fered an amendment to the Philippine
provisions of the tariff bill cutting down
the number Of cigars to be admitted free
from the islands from 10000, 600 to 75,-
100000. He said II was unfair to the
American cigarmakers to admit so many
free.
Bulkeley's Idea Substituted.
At Mr.. Aldrich's suggestion the amend
ment was allowed to go over until to-
day. Early this morning Mr.. Aldrich
yielded to a suggestion by Senator Bulke-
ley OF Connecticut that the amount of
free cigars be limited to 70.OOo.OOO. and
of free filler tobacco from 100000
pounds to 100000 pounds.
Mr.. La Toilette grinned expansively
when he heard Mr.. Aldrichs announce
ment. 1t was a new experience for him
TO have his suggestions followed so read
lily by the finance committee.
He got up and called the SenateS at
tention to the fact that in this instance
the committee had gone him o.OOO,oOO
better.
II think I shall present a modified
amendment this morning. he said. In
the hope that the committee may decide
TO allow the American cfgarmakers TO
make 100000 more of the cigars used
in this country
Thereupon Mr.. La Toilette moved to
reduce the limit to 60.0OO000 cigars. ex-
pressing the hope that the committee
would soon agree to make 1t 55,OOO,OOo.
Burkett Attacks Committee.
Senator Burkett then jumped up and
said he thought the finance committee
had not been quite as frank with the
Senate as it should have been in this
Pilippine cigar matter. The action of
Mr.. Aldrich this morning seemed to him.
he said, like a piece of petty politics.
and was surrounded by entirely too much
mystery.
''It looks as II the finance committee
doesn't know anything about this matter
or is trying to leave the senator from Wis
consin up IN the air. declared Mr.. Bur-
kett.
The senator does not need to be anx-
ioIs about me- said Mr.. La Follettee. Il
am not afraid that the committee will
leave me up in the air. / can take care
of myself
The committee. explained Mr.. Aldrich.
had not played petty politics. but had
reduced the limit because of the insistence
of western and eastern senator's"
70 Yhn
Wisconsin up in the air. Nobody can do
that" added Mr. Aldrich
Defense of Committee.
Then Senators Dick of Ohio and CALM
ger of New Hampshire defended the COM
mittee. They agreed that it deserved praise
for yielding to the arguments of other
senators and changing its mind. A few
days ago. they said the committee was
severely arraigned by several senators for
not changing its mind. They believed the
committee was most unjustly criticised
this morning. as 1t had been throughout
the tariff debate.
New York that he proceeded to recount
the method by which the Senate is or
ganized and the committees are appoint
ed. His purpose was to show that no
one man. nor group of men. control the
Senate.
He said that f1fty-f1ve republican sena-
tors had applied for membership on the
finance committee at the beginning of
this special session. when there were
but Ave republican vacancies to fill. The
final republican membership of the COM
mittee, he held, was indorsed four times
by unanimous votes of the republican
members of the Senate.
Depew Is Sarcastic.
How are we to know that this commit
tee is discredited in this body?" asked
Mr. Depew. There are fifty republican
senators voting with the committee and
only nine against 1t. There are fifty SEN
ators voting contrary to the sentiment of
the people of their states. and only nine
voting as the people wish
This ironic reference to the attacks OF
the republican insurgents on the finance
committee was greatly enjoyed by Mr.. AL
orich and the other republican "eder
statesmen" Many of them, including
Mr.. Aldrich. nodded their heads approv-
ongiy as Mr.. Depew spoke.
Il have been on many committees :
continued Mr.. Depew, and any old Sena-
tor knows that much splendid work is
done entirely in our committees. Any old
senator knows that many senators who
do not appear in debate on this floor are
the hardest working members OF this
body"
Mr.. Depew asserted that the pending
pEOpOslliOH was prepared on the recon-
mendation of President Taft. The presi-
dent of the Cigarmakers Union of New
York had been to see Mr.. Depew. admit
ted that senator and persuaded him that
100000 free cigars was too much. II
Mr.. La Toilette hadn't offered to reduce
the amount to 11,Uo,9H he said he
would have done il.
Senator Oliver of Pennsylvania decIar-
ed that he would have voted last night
for Mr.. La Follette's amendment, bu,
could not follow him far down as he
wanted to go today.
Aldrich Extols Colleagues.
Mr. Aldrich then made reply for him
self. He said he would not defend tn,
committee against attacks. His duty wa
TO pass the bill.
There are men whose condemnation :,
The highest commendation,' solemnly de
.lared Mr.. Aldrich.
He told Mr.. Burkett that regardless o.
the opinion Of any senator as to a wan
sf confidence in the committee, the com
nlittee would do its duty at all times anc
would not move an inch from its course.
Il have been in public life good man,
years and have served on many commit
Continued on Fourth Page)