The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-07
KissOuTian Says II Is Long
 Enough for Methuse|ah TARIFF VIEWS cR|Tls..,,ED
Mir. Clark Declares That Tafts Ideas on Tarin Revision Originated With the Democrats Several
 Years Ago
ny wATrERsos srEALBY

ny waTTERsoS sTEALEY | Washington, December 6.--fSpecial)- )- That the tariff part of the President. message will be bitter dis appointmen to the people, viewed in the light of tn, recent election. is the opinion of Repre- sentative Champ Clark of Missouri, mi | nority leader and the speaker of the nex l House.
 Some day some President will achieve iinperishable renown by writing an an r.ua1 message short enough for busy folk' to read" said Mr. Clark tonight.
 "Methuselah may have had leisure tC reruse 4o,00o-word message, but since his time the span of human life has been sadly and greatly abridged. The average message could be shortened by one-hali without losing anything in force or mean ing. The average presidential message suggests the remark of a correspondent of the London Times that he sent long letter because he did not have time to write short dne.
 "The two subjects treated by the Pres ident in his message continued MT. Clark, the subjects which will attract
 
 most attention, are the tariff and econ ofay Every taxpayer will applaud his efforts in regard to the latter, and all fla n:liar with the history of republican ad- mnistrations and congresses in that re- gard will wait until the total appropria- lions for this session are footed up on | March {. The appropriations and not the White House estimates are what count The President will, of course, be giver proper credit for his good intentions.
 That portion of the message pertain ing to the tariff will be a distinct disap rointment to a majority of the American s,cople, who on November emphaticall! condemned the Payne-Aldrich-Smoot bill
 The message is in essence repetition Q
 the Presidents Winona speech in Sep tentier. Just how the makers of the re publican platform of 1908 or SPresiden | Taft figure 1t out that Congress is unde II obligation to pass a tariff law or any other law guaranteeing a profit reason able or otherwise to anybody is mys tery The duty of Congress Is 10 enac laws which are just and which give every cltizen an equal opportunity in life ane | not pamper favored class at the expense of the masses.
 "NXhat seneible and reasonable folks want is q chance. nothing more, noth- ing less. Why. therefore, should Con- gr.ss undertake to guarantee req | sonable profit to one class to the eS- clusion of al, others? Why not guar antee reasonable profit to farmers, mechanics doctors, preachers, mer- chants, lawyers, teachers, clerks, la borers, etc? Why not treat them all iustIv and let them work out their own destiny and earn. tn cir own profits | Why should Congress be converted into an insurance company for the exciu- sive hereft of favored class? That is precisely what the Presidents message signifies.
 Tt goes without saying" concluded Mir. clark, that every American worthy of the name wishes earnestly that ev- cry American engaged in any legiti- mate business may make reason a ble profitf That would be the ideal | state O. affairs. but it cannot be brough. about by playing congressional ] favorites It cannot be asserted truth fully sthat tho President has improved his situation b. practically repeating | his Winona sreech.'
 Vacant Committee Places | The democratic steering committee meets after the adjournment of the Senate tomorrow to fill a number of vacant committee places in the Senate. the most important being place on | the finance committee caused by the death of ScnAor Daniel of Virginia. and a place on the appropriations com rnittee, resulting rom Senator Clay $ death. The chairman of the caucus and steering committee is Senator Money Of Miss ssippi. who retires March f. his successor being John Sharp Will hams There is considerable difference of opinicn in the steering committee over the finance vacancy. It is the most important committee of the upper branch as it corresponds in. measure | to the combined ways and means com mlttce and banking and currency com mittee of the House. There is, there tore, keen rivalry among the demo- c-ats. The committee Is of more in- portance than ever now as the senator i chosen would ordinarily hold his place | Tn the next Congress and therefore par ticipate in tariff revision. By right of seniority Senator Stone of Missouri is l entitled to tho place. Senator New lanas of Nevada, and Senator Johnston of Ala bama are being mentined for the vacancy. Senator Johnston is strong ! ly favored hv many of his colleagues. | hut is handicapped by his short service in the Senate
 | The appropriations committee vacancy is expected to go to Senator Martin oi | Virginia During the last session waile Senator Daniel was so ill there was talk l then of his relinquishing the place to hi5 1 tention may be carried by the steering committee tomorrow. The new Virgin a senator. Claude Swanson, will probably get among other committees that of in dustrial exposi;ions. which is deemed of importance now by reason of the big Pan ame canal exposition. Senator Swanson will also get all of the late Senator paniers minor committees. Senator Ter rell ef Georgia will be placed on tine minor committees of the late Senator Clay The new senator from Louisiana. who will he elected this week. is slated | for the late Senator McEnery's naval af- fairs committee.
 Pc0nage Is General
 1 The report of the immigration commits | zion on peonage is unanimous. Peunage it finds was prevalent throughout tho | United States, in the south no more than other sections The commission found there was no sentiment in favor of it. and no system anywhere. It is not considered necessary to recommend additional legia- | ation.
 The immigration committee Of che House. of which Represtntative Buine.. CONTINUED ON PAGE ls)