The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-06-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Washington, D. c., May goth, 1909
Mr.. Editor -

Washington, D. c., May goth, 1909
Mr.. Editor -
The Senate by a vote of fifty to thlr-
ty-two has postponed further consldera-
ton of the Bailey income tax amend
ment until June 10, while Senator
Aldrich has given notice that II the
time is not then opportune he will move
a further postponement. Opinion is
divided as to the wisdom of Mr. Balley's
course in pressing his amendment at
this time. The Republican advocates
of an income tax headed by Senator
Cummins of Iowa, are unrequivocaily
opposed to forcing test vote at this
time, being convinced that to do so
would bring out showing against the
opposition to that tax per Sc. They
realized the force of the argument put
forth by Mr.. Aldrich and his associates
that it was distinctly irregular to in
terrupt the consideration of the tariff
schedules to vote on an excise tax.
Mr.. Bailey on the other hand main
tanned that if vote on his amendment
were postponed until the schedules have
been adjusted the rates of duty would
have been placed so high that the reVe-
nue. to be produced by an income tax
would seem superduous, and that, there
fore, its rejection would be insured by
postponement. The result of the vote
on the question at so inopportune
time Mr.. Bailey alienated practically
all his Republican support. 1t is reason
able assumption that when the final
vote is taken portion Of this will
come back to him, but the moral Ell
feet of the rejection of his motion Tor
immediate consi deration by so over
whelmlng a vote as fifty to thrity-two
cannot, it is feared, he entirely over
come.
No unprecedented discussion Of Mr..
Bailey's course can entirely ignore the
strong conviction in Ger tain quarters
that the Texas Senator was not wholly
sincere in his support of his own a.
mendment. This view is strongly en-
tertained by Senator Cummins and
other equally staunch supporters of an
income tax. Mr.. Bailey. of course,
denounces the suggestion with his u.s.
ual vehemence. The declaration that
Mr.. Bailey was insincere, supported
by references to other instances where
he has apparently played into the han DIS
of Mr.. Aldrich and the Republican or
ganizatien, which appeared in Dem
ocratic metropolitan daily, led Mr.
Bailey into fistic encounter with a
representative of that newspaper. The
affair was before it became serious
except in it's effect upon the standing of
the Texas statesman, whose prestige in
the Senate has been so seriously in
jured by such demonstrations of his in
ability to control his temper. 1t was
Mr.. Bailey's attack upon Senator
Beveridge, whom he attempted to
choke as Mr.. Beveridge sat in his chair
on the floor of the Senate just seven
years ago, it will be recalled, which led
to the rejection of Senator Bailey as
Democratic leader and procured that
honor for his colleague Mr.. Culberson.
The summary justice meted out by
the President to S. N. D. North, for the
last six years Director of the census,
has served vivldly to recall to Republi-
can politicians that William Howard
Taft, despite the fact that he has become
the leader of the Republican party, is
still the judge rather than the politi-
clan and that when evidence is
presented to him which demands a con-
viction, he does not stop to take into
confederation the political influence or
utilization of the accusers, nor even the
effect of the conviction upon the poll
teal welfare of the Republican party
When the most influential politicians
at Capitol learned that the administra-
ton of DR.. North was under investi-
CATION they flocked to the White House
in droves to assure the President that
sit would never do to displace North"
The President listened with infinite
patience to their admonitions and like
Bre'r Rabbit, patience kept sayin'
nothin." When the investi CATION was
concluded Mr.. Taft sent for DR..
North and advised him that the most
graceful method of separating himself
from the public service would be to file
his resignation Immediately. MI
North did so and a statement was given
out at the White House saying that Mr.
North's resignation twas based on the
ground that, on account of conditions
existing and likely to continue, his
of the office would not |
be successful" Snch leading |
politicians as Senators Aldrich, Lodge, |
Crane and Root, Speaker Cannon and ,
others gasped for breath. They are |
still gasping, but the name of E. Dana !
Durand, man of marked administra-
i've ability and no political influence,
las been sent to the Senate as Mr..
North's successor.
The election of Representative Will
lam Lorinaefa as United States Senator
rom Illinois vice Albert J. Hopkins,