Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-16
May Step Down March 4.

NEW YORK. April ia special dis
patch from Washington To the Times
says:
Information has been received here that
Senator Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich OF
Rhode Island has not only decided deh-
nitely to adhere to his previously an
nounced determination to retire from The
Senate at the expiration of his present
term March next, but in preparation
for that event will shortly retire from all
his committees. except possibly that on
finance. in order 10 devote the remainder
Of his time in the Senate to the work OF
the monetary commission, of which he is
the head.
Consideration of his health is assigned
as the reason for this determination on
the part of Mr. Aldrich. He has not been
enjoying his usual COED health this win
ter, and il is understood that his physi-
clan has at last advised him that unless
he gives up his senatorial labors by next
spring at the latest he will have a very
disagreeabie old age
Senator Aldrich is at his Rhode Island
home just now, and SO nothing authori-
tative from him can be obtained here on
the matter. He is not expected back in
Washington until next week.
Tired of Being "Pack Horse"
1T is known that the senator has been
feeling the strain of his congressional
work for some time. In fact, he was
feeling IT before the special session of last
summer, at which the tariff law evas en-
acted.
eft was shout election atIaaeyLsia 1903
when the first announcement came from
Providence of his intention to retire from
the Senate next March. Even then it
was said as reason for this decision on
his part that he was growing tired OF
the great burden his position in the Sem
ate had laid upon him.
'.As he had put it to some Of his friends,
he was tired OF being made pack horse
That is fair description OF the position
Senator Aldrtch has occupied for the last
few years. His domination Of the Senate
has been SO absolute and unQuestioued
that he has been held responsible for all
sorts Of legislation, whether he was per-
sonally interested in 1t or not.
1.-The tariff session gave him tremen-
dous amount of work. 1t was. of course,
his special subject that was under con-
sideration. 1t fell, naturally, to him to
control almost absolutely the Anal char
acter of the tariff bill. which. although it
bears the name of Chairman Payne, of
the House committee on ways and means.
Is really more the work of Senator Al
drich. not only as far as rates of duties
are concerned, but more especially in the
ma ximum and minimum features and the
administrative provisions.
Would Abandon Money Reform.
There was some talk during the fight
over the tariff bill that Senator Ald1ch
meant to make that law the last great
work OF his congressional career. But
his interest in the question of monetary
reform was go keen and the work he had
put on it so great that the opinion finally
came to be pretty we'll established here
that he would remain IN the Senate long
enough to see his ideas on the subject
submitted to Congress for action. The
fulfllment of his present intention means
that he must abandon that work before
1t is completed, and leave the direction
of the legislative efforts to some one else.
''All this will be vastly interesting and
exciting to the republican insurgents, not
only those in the Senate and the House.
but all over the country, where Senator
Aldrich has been linked with Speaker
Cannon as one OF the great issues. The
very night of Speaker Cannon's removal
from the House committee on rules the
insurgents set UP the cry of On to AL
drich.' His voluntary retirement now
will be a, source Of keen delight to many
insurgents, although it robs them Of an
issue