The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-12-09
Move to Unite Republicans
for Commission
NEARLY ALL FAVOR PLAN
Congressman Give Impetus to the Move
ment-Both House and Senate
Have Measures Under Con-
sideration.

Washington, Dec. 9.--An organized
movement to reunte the Republican
party upon at least one issue, that OF
a tariff commission, is already making
Roadway inCongress 1t has been adFeI,
tised as an instTgent movement III behalf
of this legislation, but when the under
lying facts are examined 1t IS much more
than that. in brief, the point IS made
that the tariff commission is perhaps the
only issue before Congress OF national
Importance upon which the warning Re-
publicans can unite The situation cam
not be seen in its proper perspective UNI
til a few acts not commonly understood
are presented. Briefly speaking, the Re-
publican party, through state eonven-
lions held last fall, already has com
mitted itself unequivocally to the princl-
pie of a tariff commission. Whether this
may mean merely a continuance OF the
work OF the present tariff board or that
Of full Aedged commission is relatively
unmportant The outcome OF the Re-
publican command as expressed in ma.
iority Of Republican state conventions
Inevitably much be legislation strength
ening the position Of the present tariit
board and generous appropriation tor
the continuance Of its work or the estab-
hshment OF formal tariff commission.
The plain facts are that out OF two
hundred and nineteen Republican mem
bers OF the House one hundred and sixty.
nine come from states whose Republican
conventions have Endorsed the tariff com
mission principle. OF a Senate OF sixty
two Republicans, forty-six members
have been commanded by their state
platforms to vote for tariff commission
or something Of the kind. With re-
gard to the sixteen other senator's the
state platforms either have not men
toned this subject or no platform has
been adopted.
The net result of all this figuring
shows that the tariff commission idea
has been approved by every state IN the
middle West, by most Of the western
states, and by all but two Of the eastern
states, Pennsylvania and Maine. These
have not opposed blt have ignored the
idea.
In the light of these facts and with
the knowledge that a majority OF the
Republicans OF both branches, whatever
their personal opinions, were formally
committed to the tariff commission idea,
the insurgents have taken the initiative
in beginning action. John G. Cobb Of
Boston. president of the National Tariff
Commission association, has been in
Washington nearly week, and it has
been largely through his work that the
progressive Republicans Of both Houses
have been brought to agree upon a pro-
gram. Several things have happened in
Congress lately apparently with no rela-
tion to each other; but it can now be
explained that they are all part Of a
caIetally devised plan whereby the tariff
issue in some form is to be made a fea
ture of the Republican program this
winter
Although the initiative has not been
taken by President Taft, it can be stated
upon good authority that he is familiar
with all the moves made and proposed
and has given them his approval
The first came in the House day Tues
day. when Representative Good of Iowa
offered resolution discharging the COM
mittee on ways and means from further
consideration of the Good tariff commits
sion bill, introduced last year. The sec
ond may be found in the action OF SEN
ator Cummins of Iowa in offering a
resolution for a joint rule making SEIZED
ule revision possible by providing that
amendment to the tariff act may not be
entertained outside the subject under
immediate consideration. This resolu
ton had two purposes. One was that
upon its face to provide a joint rule
whereby the presidents plan of revision
bv schedule might be carried out. The
other was to get a rise from the stand
patters and learn where they stood.
In this last-named attempt, Senator
Cummins was wonderfully successful.
Senator Halt took the bait at once and
objected to the Cummins resolution on
the ground that it did not comply with
a rule OF the Senate, requiring one days
notice in writing to be given of an inten-
ton to make a motion changing the Sen
ate rules Senator Cummins, replying to
the Maine stand patter stated that he
was familiar with this rule, known as
rule 40, but that as his resolution pro-
vided for a joint rule, including both
branches, he did not think it controyened
rule 40 Senator Hale persisted with his
technical objection and Vice President
Sherman, EVIDENTLY embarrassed, finally
upheld the contention OF the Maine sen
ator As the point was immaterial
Senator Cummins yielded and stated
that he would comply with the custom
implied in rule 49, The Cummins reso-
luton viii get before the Senate, how
ever, while meantime Senator Hale has
done nothing more than show his hand,
The third important move in this sys-