The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-01

Just a this time the demand on the democratic congressional campaign com mttee for copies of the tariff speeches de- livered in the Senate by La Toilette, Dol liver and Cummins is so great that it takes a number of clerks to fill the or- ders Thousands of copies of these speeches are being sent broadcast, but principally into the western middle west states. A member of the committee said today that the demand for the tariff speeches of these progressive Senators was the best evidence that the tariff would be the chief issue in the campaign next fall
 Furthermore he said it shows that the republican party is no longer united on the tariff. The member added that the po- ltical situation as 1t exists today is more like that of 1S90 when the democrats swept the country on the Mckinley bill, than at any other time in years. History shows, the committeeman declared, that the party under revises the tariff meets with defeat at the following election; the only exception to this having been in the case of the Dingley bill, which was for gototen in the following campaign be- cause of the trouble over Cuba, which re- suited in war with Spain, and no party ever loses when it has conducted a sue cessful war. This time there is nothing to befog the issue. The people are com plaining of the exorbitant prices of food stuffs and the necessities of life, and rightfully or wrongfully. the party in power must answer to the people.
 When the legislative executive and ju- dicial appropriation bill comes up in the House for consideration, there is some talk that a "reformer' may throw a bomb by offering an amendment re- quiring secretaries to members to be sworn in and have their names placed upon the pay roll, as with other House employees.
 Under the law as it now exists mem- bers are allowed mot more than $125 per month for the pay of a private secretary. or so much thereof as may be required for such service" The secretaries are annual, that is their service can be con tinued for a year, if needed, and if not employed the money is turned back into the treasury unless certified by the mem- Der. that he has expended it for ''clerk hire" It is common talk that some mem ~bers divide the pay allowed for secre- taries among several employees, and thus add to the political strength at home.
 There Is no means of knowing from any official record the names Of the men or women who are employed by members as secretaries. The purpose of the pro- posed amendment is to turn on the light and see just who is not living up to the letter of the law. This condition does not prevail in the Senate, where Sena- tors secretaries are required to take the oath of office and are paid by the dis- bursting officers. This is a reform that has been talked of for several years, but no member has shown any disposition to press it until now.
 The President has dolit the very thing to .'bump' Beyeridge." said an insurgent
 in the House today ''The announcement that the senior Senator of Indiana is to control the patronage of the Hoosier state" continued the insurgent means that Beveridge will fall Into the pit dug for him by the Hemenway machine. It will be impossible for Beverdge to satis- fy the crowd seeking office, and for every one who receives an appointment there will be q dozen or more sore heads who will take pleasure In doing the young man with the big voice, as he is called
 of the President really wished to make Bereidges return to the Senate sure he would nave eausea u to De hnown tna' Beveridge was an opponent of the admin istration and therefore could expect no patronage That would have lined up the boys, and the senior Senator would have had a clear field; but now that it is known the way to the pie counter is through his o. K. he will be besieged to death by applicants. With the result that he may go down in defeat. Beveridge will not be the first Senator that patron age has killed politically.'