Evening star., 1909-03-08
CONCERN AT CAPITOL 'POuCY IN THE SOUTH
nslruents and Democrats Mr. Taft Takes Up Subject of
May Nearly Control House. Appointments.
ONl THREE VOTES SHORT iCONFERS WITH HITCHCOCK
Prospective Tariff Postmaster General Expected
Legislation. Charge of Patronage
INTERESTS DESIRING DELAY MANY WHITE HOUSE CALLERS
DELAY MANY WHITE HOUSE CALLERS
Situation Styled by Some Members
as Dangerous to a Degree
General Legislation.

Suppose Speaker Cannon and the other
leaders of the House organization dis
cover, after q final count of noses just
before the special session convenes March
IL, that they are i'll bad way and threat
ened with defeat, will President Taft
come to the rescue of the regulars? Or
was there really some fire behind all the
smoke of months ago, when Mr.. Taft was
said to be dickering with the insurgent
leaders of the House for the price OF
Uncle Joe's scalp? And, if there was at
the time any truth in this report, has Mr.
Taft changed his attitude at all? VIII ne
heIp or will he hinder or will he just sit
by and watch the rumpus, if there should
happen to be one?'
These are some questions that members
of the regular House organization are
asking themselves and one another these
days. The last count that was made OF
the regular and insursent forces devei-
uped the fact-on paper-that should the
House insurgents and the House demo-
Gratis combine they would then have with
in three votes of enough to do what they
pleased with the rules of the body.
Cannon's Reelection Assured.
Members of the organization at the
Capitol today expressed the opinion that
tIere would be serious opposition to
the reelection of Mr.. Cannon as Speaker
of the House. But they did not speak
in so assured tone of the result of the
fight on the rules which. from present
Indications is certain to come off soon
as Congress meets for the special tariff
session.
They didn't think" there would be any
difficulty of a permanent character and
they were reasonably certain that the
present clouds now hanging over the
House end of the Capitol would blow
away. But it is only stating fact to say
that Mr.. Cannon and his cohorts are
rather concerned over the situation
1t is rather expected by the organiza-
ion leaders. at least that Mr.. Taft would
he quick to take a hand, If developments
indicated its necessity, in putting end
10 any vicious rules now in the House. 1t
would not aid in an auSpicious beginning
OF its administration, it is generally ad-
mitted, to have insurgent republicans and
the entire democratic strength line up for
hot, and perhaps prolonged. battle over
the rules. The worst feature of it would
be that undoubtedly it would set back the
work of turning out an acceptable tariff
bill.
Effect on Tariff Legislation.
Just suppose, for instance. said "a
prominent member of the House today.
that the insrgent members of ous
party and the democratic strength do eff
feet a combination and are successful in
securing the appointment of a committee
on committees Does anybody think that
that committee, appointed in such way.
would accept the spot and without
question the tariff bill which has been
practically completed by the ways and
means committee of the Sixtieth Con-
aress. which the Speaker intends to re-
appoint practically unit. for the
S.Nty-firsr Congress? Certainly it would
not and its refusal to do this would re-
suit in more hearings, protracted sessions
and a further delay iii laying this all
important measure before the House.
So lar as the members of the republi-
can party in the House who, by their
effort TO bring about a revision IN the eX-
listing rules. have become known as in
surgents. concerned. no one has
questioned that they are dctuated by en-
IIrely properly motives. But recently
there has been AN ntimation conveyed to
some folks at the Capitol that perhaps
the outside fight on Uncle Joe Can
non and the literature that is being sent
ont broadcast in an effort TO secure his
defeat for the speakershp of The Sixty
first Congress have not the same pure
ur gin.
Interests Desiring Delay.
There are many influential interests. it
,
that would welcome any delay in the
enactment of tariff legislation and would
DO anything IN their power to make such
i delay possible. 1t Is recognized, and has
boon repeatedly stated of late by both
republican and democratic leaders, that
until Il tariff bill has been framed and
pasSed by the Senate and House for the
signature of President Taft, business con-
ditions will remain in an usettIcd state
such a state of the national finances is
not repuguant to certain interests. II is
held. and these interests. II was suggest
cd, might not be averse 10 assisting to
kick up much dust about the election of
Mr.. Cannon To the Spt dkership and about
revision of the rules. with The idea OF
bringing on an Internal row In the House
and delaying consideration of the tariff
bill
Situation Called Dangerous
At any rate, the situation with respec,
to the House just now is decidedly in
terestng. Some members go so far as
10 call it dangerous to a degree" Ger
tainly the first part of the extra ses-
sion viii be lively.
One regular" discussing today the
changes in the rules demanded by the
Insurgents. suggested that these sam.
insurgents had secured. during the clos
ing days OF the session. the only chang.
demanded.
THAT was" he said. the creation OF
calendar Wednesday This PROPOSE
zion was introduced by insurgent
and fathered by them all Yet when tn.
rules committee brought in Il resol,
zion for its adoption they opposed il, inC
Il had tu he forced down their throatS
Such changes they now demand-ar
enlarged committee on rules and com
mittcc ON committees. are rather, i
seems To me. changes in the House
General Legislation Proposed.
Another thing that is still mp in the air
far as could be learned today was tn,
proposition with respect to general legis
Iation at the impending special session
Will" the Senate j. watin. for the Hous,
Io send the tarif bill over that body will
have lots of tifxf ON it's hands. and whil
The House iS waiting TOR the Senate Z
act the lower branch will be in the sam
ijN. So il is suggested by the advocate
uf postal savings banks. who believe ther
abundant votes in both the Senat
and House to carry through their meas
Ure. that during the Special session wou
he a good time to do IL.