The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-15
ACTIVE FIGHT
ON THE RULES
IN THE HOUSE
Special Session of the Sixty
first Congress Bids Fair
to Be Exciting.
DEMOCRATS MAY HELP
REPUBLICAN kiCKERS
WAYS BEING CREASED FOR THE
LAUNCHING OF PAYNE BILL
AT THE EARLIEST MOMENT.

Washington, March 14.-Both houses OF
congress will meet in extraordinary ses-
sion at noon tomorrow. 1t will be the be
ginning of the Sixty-first congress, and
the first act Of Importance in the house
will be the organization of that body for
business. The senate is already organ
lied. Later the senate will begin the re-
organization of its standing committees,
and until this is accomplished little bust
ness will be undertaken.
The house looks for an active opening.
With fight on the rules in prospect, in
addition to the election of speaker and
other officers, Monday bids fair to be a
much crowded day.
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 Democratic allies should win
the program for the introduction and con-
sideration of the tariff bill might be diff
ferent from what it would be if the stand
Datters prevail.
Presidents Message Tuesday.
If Speaker Cannon's friends are victor
iOus in the rules fight. the presidents
message on the tariff will be received
tariff will be introduced Immediately. The
speaker will then appoint a committee on
ways and means, and the bill will be re-
ferred to that committee.
It is understood that If the selection of
the committee is left to the speaker. he
viii designate all the old members who
were reelected. This would leave but
one vacancy that caused by the retire
ment of Mr.. Bonynge of Colorado. and it
is intimated that Representative Mondell
of Wyoming will be chosen for that posi-
ton.
As soon as practicable. within a dav or
two afterit is reported. the tariff bill will
be taken UP. and the debate which will
last from two TO four weeks, viii be
launched.
Senate Will Begin Early.
While the senate cannot formally begin
the tariff until after the house
senate the committee on finance will dis
cuss the subject so as TO become well ac-
qUainted with it
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 to some later date will be
considered
The leaders, however, insist that the
quickest action on the tariff can be OBJ
tanned by holding congress exclusively to
that subject, and contend that the bust
ness interests OF the winch are
by the uncertainty regarding du-
ties are paramount to all other considera-
lions.
Tariff Bill Features.
One of the most important features of
the tariff bill is its numerous differences
from the present law in phraseology.
These changes have been made to clear
up any ambiguity in the Dingley bill, and
to make the new measure conform with
the difficulties Of the courts and the board
of appraisers.
Major H L. Lord. United States army.
who has been detailed with the committee
on ways and means, in charge of informa-
ton during the present revision. was clerk
of the committee during the Dingley re
vision. Major Lord today said that tbs
most persistent argument advanced in ia
vor of the creation Of a tariff commission
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 a revenue bill. He said
the work of gathering information began
months in advance Of the adoption. of the
house resolut ton last May, authorizing ex-
penditures in the preliminary tariff in
quiry.
Court Decisions.
One exceedingly important feature of
tho WoFk was the consideration of the
court decisions that have affected the rev
enue." said Major Lord. land the recon-
these difficulties. The committee on this
work had the assistance of Thomas H
Dougherty. assistant counsel, United
States treasury, from the office of general
appraisers, New York
AT the request of the committee, the
state department sent out q circular let
ter to its foreign representatives calling
for reports of Industrial conditions. Tie
subjects of foreign labor and cost OF pro-
duction were covered in detail and the
committee was able to corroborate or dis
prove the statements made along these
lines
This information was gathered prelim-
mary to the public hearings. Representa-
tives Of all the important industries were
subjected to searching Investigations. Also
about 5000 communications and petitions
relative TO tariff revision were received by
the committee.
1.-THE bill will not only be the result of
the honest efforts of the leading tariff ex-
perts Of this country but will represent
more labor and detail than entered into
the preparation Of all other American tar
if measures combined