The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-12-15
THE FIRST TARIFF DEBATE.
Senator Cummins Discusses the Bill
-Messrs. Lodge and Aldrich Are
Willing to Join in With Western
Senators i'm Revising Tariff, Where
Necessary, One Subject at a Time.


Washington, D. c., Dec. 13.-The
Senate to-day listened to the first
tariff debate of the session and while
necessarily the discussion was large
lily academic, it served to develop the
important fact that some Eastern
Senators, among the Messrs. Lodge
and Aldrich, are willing to join with
Western associates in the piecemeal
revision of the tariff The subject
came up on a motion TO refer to the
Committee on Rules the Cummins
joint resolution providing for the
limitation of the power to amend
bills looking to the modification of
paragraphs and schedules of the
Payne-Aldrich bill.
Mr.. Cummins speech was the first
attack of the session on the Payne
Aldrich law, and it received careful
attention. The Iowa Senator dis
avowed any intention of opening up
a general tariff discussion. He con-
tended that the people generally be-
lieved that the law should be amend
ed. Declaring, then, that under ex-
listing parliamentary usage in the
House and Senate the amendment of
tariff law is out of the question,
he contended that the first step to
be taken was the modification of the
rules so as to render it possible to
amend an individual provision of the
tariff law without taking up the en-
tire tariff question.
1.-THE real ISSUE" he said, 'is
whether we shall 50 amend our rules
as to permit the amendment of the
law, schedule by schedule"
Senator Lodge declared his will
ingness to do all in his power to ad-
vance legislation for the amendment
of the tariff schedules. Mr.. Aldrich
favored amendment, but said that he
would prefer taking up the question
by subjects rather than by schedules.
He, however, was emphatic in his OPP
position to the Iowa Senator's meth
cd of proceeding which contemplates
the alteration of the rules of both
House and Senate by joint resolu-
ton. Senator Hale, who opposes the
amendment, did not participate in
the debate. It is expected that he
will take ground totally antagonistic
to the Cummins program.
During the day much attention
was given to the right Of the Senate
to interfere in any way in the forma-
ton of House rules and Of the Sem
ate to amend revenue bills, which,
under the Constitution, must origi-
nate in the House. Mr.. Aldrich fat
ly announced his opposition to any
course that would circumscribe the
House, and Mr.. Cummins interpreted
this remark as a declaration in sup
port of the right Of the Democratic
House of the next Congress to out
line its own policy without interior
ence. The owa Senator declared
his desire to keep politics out OF the
question.
In the course of his remarks Mr..
Cummins spoke severely upon the
Senate practice of building up bills to
its own liking on measures supplied
by the House.
velop his opposition to Senatorial
amendments to tariff bills he was
sharply antagonized by Mr.. Aldrich,
who went so far as to declare the
doctrine revolutionary"
''It absolutely robs the States of
their rights of equal representation"
he declared.
Mr.. Cummins contended that un-
less the rules Of the two Houses were
amended there would be no POSSIBLE
ity Of amending the tariff, with the
consequence that it must remain as
it is until 'the people in their indig-
nation and wrath rise mp and compel
a general revision"