The San Francisco call., 1910-12-12
BOURBONS PROPOSE
TARIFF TINKERING
Passage of Appropriation Bills
in First Week of Session
a Record

WASHINGTON, Dec. ia week of
congress has not cleared the atmos
phere as to whether there will be any
serious effort at tariff tinkering. While
many bills have been introduced for
! the repeal of duties on lumber, food
products. coal and many raw materials,
they have come from the democratic
minority and are regarded as indicating
the intentions OF individuals next ses-
sion, when the democrats will be in
the majority.
In the senate the only tariff activity
has been in connection with the pro-
posed amendment of the rules pre-
sented by Senator Cummins. The change
| suggested is designed to permit re-
vision by schedules and prevent con-
! sideration of amendments to schedules
other than those specially under dis
| cussion.
OPPOSITION TO CLOTURE
The opposition to the proposed
/ change in the rules insists that it in
wolves cloture in a form that has been
repugnant for 100 years. Friends of
! the Cummins scheme point to Presf-
dent Taft's Endorsement of tariff re-
vision by schedules and declare such q
rule is necessary if the presidents
| plan is to carry.
| llC pdo6dSO LLIOuSu lIlS llOuSc VI
two of the large appropriations was
an unheard of thing in the history of
| congress, especially when 1t was con-
! sidered that they were the Indian and
rivers and harbors bills. both of which
have precipitated controversies and
! long debates heretofore. It is expected
that the pension bill will be reported
from the committee on appropriations
Tuesday and, that the legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bills
will be reported Thursday.
PROSPECTS FOR LEGISLATION
Chairman Tawney has promised
! Speaker Cannon and republican whip
| Dwight that he can report others of
the big supply bills as rapidly as the
house can handle them. The rush OF
| these measures through the house at
the instigation of the administration
| to open the field for the presidents
legislative program promises to break
| all records At the same time there
seems to be an impression among MEM
! bers that the session will prove bar
rem OF results so far as general legis-
| lation is concerned.
Much opposition is developing
| against the passage of a bill to pro-
! vide for reapportionment based upon
| the thirteenth census. If this should
| go over until next session some inter-
! esting debates would result. Reappor-
tionment legislation. as a rule offers
advantages to the party in power, but
next session the house will be demo-
cratic and the senate republican, and
many members think 1t would be i'm
possible to pass a law under such con-
| ditions unless it contained a large ele-
ment of fairness to both parties.
Arsenal to Build Guns
WASHINGTON, Dec 11.-Some of
n inc
battleships authorized at the last ses-
sion of congress probably will be
built at the Watervliet army arsenal
The matter will be decided after
congress has acted upon all questions
involved in the construction OF the
new ships.
Some guns are now in process of
building at the Washington navy
yard. IF it is decided to build others
at the army arsenal the navy depart
ment will be actuated, it is said, by
the fact that the arsenal is practical
ly out of work and to prevent the
closing down of the plant
| A few of the guns probably will be
built by private contract
Repair Limits Opposed
! WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-Legislation
| to repeal two sections Of the revised
| statutes limiting the cost of repairs to
nuns ana rigging or naval vessels has
been urged on the house naval affairs
committee by Secretary Meyer When
these laws Were passed naval vessels
were built of wood and sails were the
principal means of propulsion
The electrical apparatus now in use
for auxiliary purposes aboard ship did
not exist. The largest of these vessels
had displacement of about $500
tons, and they were simple and mex
pensive compared with modern naval
craft. A limit of cost of $4,000 for
the repair of huIls and spars. and
$1,000 for sails and rigging was then
put in force.
Secretary Meyer calls the two stat
utes antiquated, and says that there
are no adequate safeguards in force
against useless expenditure.
Opposition to Peary
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-Represent-
| ative Macon of Arkansas threatens
trouble for Captain Robert E. Peary.
| arctic explorer, when the question of
honoring him comes UP on the floor of
the house.
Macon is a member of the naval af-
fairs committee, which has before 1t a
bill to make Peary a rear admiral
Macon contends there is no more
| "a