Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-28

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-When Con-
gress meets IL week from tomorrow,
it will have just three months in
which TO perform whatever may be
the demands of Republican admin
istratlon. After that the fate of the
Taft legislative program will depend
upon the will Of a Democratic House
anda Republican Senate. a condition
which will continue until the end of
President Tafts present term of Of
flee.
Confronted with a situation full of
confusion, the success or failure OF the
approaching short session of the 61st
Congress is believed to rest with the
character of the Executive message
70 be sent t. the legislative bodies,
according to Republican party leaders
who are now in the city.
Many of the regular Republicans
who were defeated in the recent cleo
tions are not expected to accept with
the best OF grace the blows so harsh
l. administered, and this fact will
cut out for the President task far
more difficult and complex than any
that have been presented to an eX-
Realizing that he will be criticized
if he fails to demand of Congress
further revision of the tariff-espec-
tally of the wool and WOODEN schedule
and fully cognizant of the fact that
the prospects would be all against the
success of such "a program if sub
mitted, the President, it is said, has
not made up his mind definitely what
his course will be. The chances are
that he viii not insist upon action
during the approaching session, but
that ne will offer to the Democratic
House and the Republican Senate !,
year hence. d program for tariff re-
vision which will be bolstcred up with
facts and figures gathered in the mean
time hv the tariff board.
Out of the whole membership o.
Congress. comparatively few have
reached the city and there has been
little opportunity for exchange Of
views as to what should he done during
tie remainder of the present con
grcss. So far as there has been ex-
preston. the predictions Of congress
men are against any extended pro-
gram. Nevertheless, the adminiStra-
tlon IS manlfCSting Il desire 10 utilize
the time to the best advantage Il,
carrying out plans formulated before
the change in the political complex
ion Of the country had taken place.
Tor gratifying as was the record OF
last session from a party point of
VloW. President Taft finds his de-
hands for legislation still Incomplete
Personally the President has made il
clear to his callers that he does not
purpose to withdraw any part of his
program, although compelled to alter
mis- plans somewhat. just because the
Democrats are about to come into
control of the House of Representa-
tives. The short time that remains of
Republican majorties in both branches
of the national Legislature is used by
the President as an argument for
pressing forward Many Of his callers
cCncede the point he makes but being
more familiar than he with filbuster-
ing methods, they arc not so sanguinc
as to the feasibility of the administra-
TONS ambitions. The revolt against
the so-called Cannon rules. will not
tend to heishten the chances of expo
coming session.
Within the short session which will
begin next week. IA regular appropria
tiCn hills. carrying an aggregate of
1000. 100000 or more, must be passed.
Otherwise there would be the nccesSity
for al extra session next spring. Tho
result of such session would be to
bring the Democrats face to face with
the necessity of doing something nine
months in advance of the time they
would ordinarily be called upon to as
sumo responsibility. For many reasons
neither Democrats nor Republicans
want to precipitate this situation ard
it will be avoided if possible. So far
as appropriation bills are concerned.
it is not believed there will be lack of
cooperation to facilitate their passage.
Leaving the appropriation bills out
of consideration, the Democrats are
are disposed to take the broad position
that legislation of general character
should be postponed until they come
into the degree of power that has been
conferred upon them. Contendng that
the last election was an expression of
the popular will they urge that 1t
should be needed to the extent of per-
hitting the Democracy to take the
initiative in whatever new action is to
be taken. Meanwhile so contending, the
Democratic leaders are much embar-
raised by the Presidents position In
favor of beginning the revision of the
tariff by schedules. They go even fur
Their than Mr.. Taft in their denuncia-
ton of the wool schedule, and while
preferring themselves to designate the
way Of its rewriting, they admit they
would find it difficult to resist an eff
fort at reduction whatsoever and by
whomsoever it might be undertaken.
Such also is the case with reference to
other schedules. they could scarcely
do less than cooperate in reductions
at any time.
There is some sympathy among Dem