The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-02-24
TAFT ADM|N!STRA-
TON CONSTRUCTIVE
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS WILL
WORK HAND IN HAND FROM
OUTSET TO PASS A TARIFF
BILL. Isl

/
the tariff bill and adjourn the spe-
cial session of congress by June l is
the Taft program, to which the lead
ers of the two houses agree. This
plan was arranged during the visit
of the president-elect to the capital
this week and every effort will be
made to carry it out. This import
ant concession to the wishes of the
business men of the country is taken
as a sign of the strength the Taft
administration is to possess as a con-
structive government
The truth is that March is to
bring not only a change of admins
tration, but revolution in the af
fairs of the government. Beginning
that day, the president and the con-
gressional leaders are to work hand
! in hand. There will be an end, at
least for a time, to the present de-
plorable state of affairs-the presi
dent and the congress more or less
at loggerheads, and constructive
Legislation virtually impossible.
One of the leading features of the
policy of Mr.. Taft is to establish and
maintain friendly relations with the
congressional leaders. He has seen,
as everyone has seen, the i'll effects
of the unfortunate differences which
have arisen during the last two or
three years between Mr.. Roosevelt
and the chief men of the parliament.
Where the responsibility for this
should be placed is not a question
with which Mr.. Taft has anything
to do. He may have his opinions,
but his principal business is to make
a success of his own administration
ana by so doing win the reelection
which is his natural and proper am
bition.
Tn Full Accord.
Whether or not the tariff bill can
be passed by June I the future must.
of course, determine The new presi-
dent and the men who move the
wheels of legislation in the two
houses are in full accord. They are
working together on the program
to remove as quickly as possible the
tariff uncertainty which hangs over
the trade and industry.
There is no good reason why the
Payne bill should not be disposed of
in a couple of months after congress
reconvenes the middle of March.
Four weeks for debate and four
weeks for threshing out the differ
ences between the two houses-the
final clash of selfishness and schem-
ing and log-rolling which comes at
the finish of every tariff revision
should be sufficient. OF course the
democratic senators have it in their
power to prolong the debates as
much as they wish and may do so
if that would embarrass the repub-
licans. But if they adopt this pol
icy they must take responsibility for
it in the eyes of the country.
The present situation in congress
is far from satisfactory to the great
body of American citizens, the peo-
pie who like to have things done,
and who generally side with Mr..
Roosevelt in his quarrels with con-
g1ess because he is for action and
congress for delay. To add to the
fundamental troubles there is the La
Toilette filibuster or something very
like a filibuster, though it has not
yet got down to the close fighting.
Failure of Bills Threatens.
Failure of the sundry civil and
perhaps other appropriation bills is
threatened and unless an improve
ment soon comes in the temper OF
the statesmen nothing else will have
much chance to get through.
Striking illustration of the way
things are done, or not done, in the
senate is found in the bill giving
statehood to Arizona and New Mex
ice. 1t has passed the house virtual
" without opposition. At least sew
Ienty or eighty out of ninety-two SEN
ators favor it, and yet it is extreme
Ily doubtful if it can be put through
at this session.
When this statehood bill is passed
and its success is only a question
of time-the last of the territories
of the continental United States will
have been brought within the Union
of states. The political effect of the
administration of Arizona and New
Mexico is likely to be an even break
between the two parties.