Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-12-14
FIRST TARIFF DEBATE
OF CONGRESS SESSION
Deve|opes Fact That Some Eastern
Senators Are Willing to Join with
Their Western Associates in
PieCemeaI Revision,

Washington, Dec. 13.-Thc Senate to-
Of the session and while nccessarily, !,
the discussion was largely academic.
il served to develop the important fact
that some Eastern senators, among
them Lodge and Aldrich. Gre willing
to join with Western associates il
the pccemeal revision nf thc tariff.
The subject came up on q motion to
refer to the committee on rules the
Cummins joint resolution providing
for the limitation of the power to
amend the bills looking to til" modifl-
cation of paragraphs and schedules Of
the Paync-Aldrich bill.
Cummins occupied the floor in sup
port Of the provision but hc VAS in
terrupted to Sucn an extent that the
discussion partook largely Of the ma
turc of a running debate. 1t was dur
ing this discussion that Lodge and
Aldrich found occasion to announce
their respective positions.
Tae massachusetts senator declared
his willingness to do all in his power
to advance legislation for the amend
ment of the tariff schedules. Aldrich
favorede amendment bat said IL"
would prefer taking up the questions
by subjects rather than by schedules.
He. however, was emphatic in his OPP
position to the Iowa senators method
of procedure which contemplates al
terra ton OF the rules of both the Sen
ate and the House by Joint rasolu
ton. Hale who opposes the amend
ments lid not participate in the de-
bate. 1t is expected that he VIII take
ground totally antagnniStic to the
CummHs program.
During the day much attention was
given to right Of tlle Senate to inter
fore IL amy way IN the formation of
House rules AMI Of the Senate to
amend revnuo Bills. which. under the
constitution must originate in th"
House.
Aldrich fatty announced his opposition
to any course that would circumscribr
the House. and Mr.. Cummins interpreted
this remark as d declaration in support
Of the right Of the Democratic House Of
the next Congress to outline its own pol
icv without interference. The Iowa sct-
ator declared his desire to keep politics
out of the question.
CulnminS spoke Tor about Two ana 4
half hours and severely criticized the
Senate practice of building up bills to its
own liking on measures supplied by the
House. Aldrich did not follow him in this
contention. "You are sailing into very
broad sea- he remarked.
We'll if | find myself in a port where
my vessel is infected with some horrible
coltagion / prefer the open water" re
sponded Cummins, evidently satisfied
with his position.
In that event" blandly replied the
senator from. Rhode Island. the senator
is liable to remain in the open for a long
time
AS the Iowa senator proceeded to de
velop his opposition to senatorial amend
inents to tariff bills he was sharply am
tagonized by Aldrch. who went SO far rs
to declare the doctrine 'revolutionary.
'It absolutely robs the states of th.iI
right Of equal representation" he dc"
clared.
Cummins contended that unless thc
rules of the two houses were amended
there would be no possibility of amend
Ing the tariff, with the consequence that
it must remain as it Is until "the people
in their Indignation and wrath rise NJ
and compel a general revision.'