Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-12-08
CONGRESS CONVENES FOR
THREE MONTHS SESSION
President Taft Plans Much Legislation, but Party
Politics and Lack Of Time May BockIt---
Extra Session Of New Congress
Is Predicted.

accomplish that which he has at heart
the president has had several confer
ences. with leading regulars and prog
ressives at which his program has
been thoroughly threshed out Tie
outlook seems to be gooa for united
action Of all classes of Republicans
In the senate. but. as has been init.
mated, the danger comes from these
Democrats who will antagonize all
that bears political aspect in pro
posed legislation.
The session may not be without its
share of sensational incidents. The
committee which Investigated the Bal
linger-Pinchot controversy has con,
cluded its labors and it's report Is
ready for the consideration of the
two houses of congress. BY the. ma.
jority of the joint committee the sec.
rotary OF the interior is exonerated;
by the minority. including one prog.
ressive Republican. Pinchot is sus-
tanned, and the discussion of the re-
port doubtless will cause some sensa.
tional speeches in both houses.
Lorimer Report Ready.
The Lorimer bribery charges, grow.
ing out of the allegations that the
Illinois senator was elected through
the corrupt use of money. were in,
vestigated by senatorial committee
during the summer and its report is
ready. The Impression here is that
the committee did not find the charges
sustained by evidence that was OF
sufficient importance to warrant an
unfavorable report.
Another inquiry, growing out of
charges made by Senator Gore on the
floor Of the senate, was made during
the recess. This charge involved the
use of money and the offer of alleged
fees to certain men in the senate and
house for favorable action on legisla-
ton pertaining to Indian matters. AL.
though the formal report of the com.
mittee las not been made. 1t is un.
derstood that the conclusion has been
reached that the statements rest on
unwarranted accusations.
IL one attempted to predict what
will be done at the present session. 1t
would be safe only to prophesy that
the appropriation bills and Incidental
measures necessary to the ordinary
conduct of the government will be
enacted into law. There will be much
talk and very little action.
Extra Session Is Predicted.
-
well as among the Democrats, are
predicting that events are tending to-
ward an extra session of the new
congress, either Immediately on the
expiration of this session. or early. in
the summer. These leaders believe
that If President Taft does not call
such session for the consideration
of revision of the tariff schedules,
the Democratic or Republican leaders
may force an extra session by holding
up the passage of the necessary ap-
preparation bills
The Democratic leaders believe. at
least some of them, that an extra
session for the consideration of the
tariff schedules would be fatal to the
Republicans. because whatever the
Democratic majority in the Eouse
might do would be blocked by the Re-
publican senate. Some of the Repub-
lican leaders say that an extra ses-
sion would be fatal to Democrats on
the Republican theory that the Dem
ocratic party can be counted on to do
the wrong thing al the right time"
and that II the tariff schedules are
revised the Democrats will make
some kind of blunder.
1t is indeed seldom that two par.
ties, at the same time. believe that
an extra session will be of advantage
to each. Nearly everything done at
this session will be with an eye single
to point of advantage from which
the campaign to capture the White
House in 1912 can be conducted