The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-04
Speaker Merely Wants to Trans
act Routine Business, but
President Objects.
EXECUTIVE MESSAGE MAY
BE A SPUR TO CONGRESS
Life of Tariff Board Is Depend
ent on Democrats Making
Appropriation.
Special TO The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
W WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. g.
Whatever the plans Of The Republican
leaders, and Judging from public ex-
pressiors by Uncle Joe Cannon. they
are disposed to mark time this winter,
it is already apparent that the coming
session of congress is bound TO be Il
lively one. Congress will meet on Dc
ceniber s. and will expire by constitu-
tional limitation at noon on March 4.
This is to be short session, and nsu-
ally ''short sessions are not prolific
OF legislative en3ctmeuts aside from
the routine supply bills and other meas
ureS of pressing Importance,
When Speaker Cannon reached the
capital he gave out an interview in
which he said that he did not expect
congress to enter into the consideration
or many bills Of general Importance.
lime would not permit, be said.
We Will pass the appropriation bills,
an apportionment act based on the cen
sus returns, and then we will be ready
to adjourn he announced
1t has since been learned that Pres.
dent Taft contemplatcs outlining an am
he does. Uncle Joe and other leaders
will have to fall in line behind it, The
president is said to take the position
that it is the duty of the Republicans
to make an effort to carry out certain
platform pledges. and that if they fail
IN the attempt the Democrats will have
to take the blamo in event that the
present minority shows a disposition to
place obstacles in the way of the ad-
ministration bills.
No Tariff Revision Likely.
Most of the regular Republicans scoff
at the idea that serious effort will be
made to revise any schedule OF the tariff
law at the coming session. Perhaps no
other subject is discussed with more
animation by the incoming members.
This is due to the fact that the tariff
was given place of prominence as an
issue in the recent campaign and to
the uupopularity Of the PAYNE A ldrich
law is attributed the defeat of many
Republican members.
President Taft is thinking deeply
about the tariff these days, and unless
he changes his mind the question will
form the leading topic of his forth
coming message 1t may be stated upon
touches upon the tariff, as he now fully
intends to do. he will address congress
on the wool schedule, which he has CON
demned as "lndefensible, the print
paper and wood pulp schedule, and the
rubber schedule. No other features of
the law have excited more widespread
discussion.
1t is known that the president can
have q report from the tariff board on
wood pulp, print paper and wool if ne
makes it plain that he wants the re-
Sul{c in tlun for hiS rpncsaua
In addition to the tariff the president
will discuss number of questions with
n view Of getting action on them be-
fore the adjournment of congress this
winter. lie will recommend the forti-
fcation of the Panama canal, despite
the opposition to such fortifcation re-
Gently voiced on the isthmus by Repre-
sentative Tawney, chairman of The
house committee on appropriations. He
will again outline his plans for fed
eral incorporation law, recommend that
q ship subsidy bill be passed, discuss
the proposed reciprocal trade relations
with Canada and recommend the passage
of law providing y new form of gov
ernment for Alaska.
Conservation Legislation.
He will also ask for more legislation
along the lines Of conservation. suggest
The passage of some sort Of an inlunc-
tion bill in conformity with the plat
form pledges of 1908, and recommend
further legislation for the safety Of
railway employees.
Owing to the fact that congress will
be In session only three months, it will
be impossible for the president, even
if he were so disposed, to force such
a programme through at the coming
session. However. he believes that some
things can be done, and will decide !
lust what measures ne shall pick out
for action this winter.
SO while Uncle Joe Cannon and other (
leaders are figuring on a session de-
routine business, it Will be noted that |
he presiden is formulating plans for the |
lawmakers.
In addition TO the legislation to be
suggested by the president, the senate
md house calendars are crowded with
bills OF more or less Importance, Many
Of these are measures in which lndi-
which they will demand action. Some
IF them must be considered, and if the
Democrats are so disposed they cnn
consume a lot of time In debate and
,hus prevent passage in many cases,
Just what attitude the Democrats
sill assume toward administration bills
his winter has not yet been disclosed,
t would be assumed that they would
oppose any and all measures that ema-
,ate from the White House. 1t may
80 taken for granted that they will
nterpose objection to ship subsidy leg
station, Many Republicans are OPP I
'osed TO this proposition, and there is ;
title or no prospect of the passage of I
he pending Humphrey bin at the com
ng session
There is one question in which the 9
.reat majority of the Republicans feel
deep concern. They are determined, +;
{ possible. to continue the life OF the c
ariff board. The existence of this board IS
Confined on Page Three,