New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-06
from The Tribuns Bareau.J

Washington, December ..
MID SNOW AND FROST.-In snow
storm which striking1y suggested that day
in March, 1902 when all the clements coz
spired to make memorable the Inauguration
of the President of the United States, Coh-
gress convened to-day. But then there was
no gloom within the Capitol comparable 10
that which reigned this noon. Good losers
there were, OF course, among the hundred
and more Senators and Representaties who
will retire to private life on the 4th OF next
March, and it is perhaps true that those
who lost were hardly so blue to-day as
some who ere LETT behind. The loss Of a
place in the Senate. which Senator DepeT
describes as 1.-The most delightful club in
the world''-and he is a member OF so
many that he is competent 10 JUDGES
serious thing, but the severing of old
friendships, the separation Of the ways Tor
men who for years have served and fought
shoulder TO shoulder, is a sadder thing, not
less for those who remain than for those
who go. Then too, the grim reaper made
serious inToads into the ranks OF both
houses in the recess just ended. Four Sen
ators and an equal number Of Representa-
tives have answered to the last roll call
since June Is. and their absence added 10
the sobriety OF the occasion. especially IL
the Senate, where there are many who
have reached the traditional threescore
and ten, and where every death of a mem
Der excites the question. silent or expressed,
who will be the next?
REPUBLICAN APATHY was
notable lack of hope at the Capitol to-day.
Few members of either house have re-
turned with anything approaching enthus
iasnl. Like men awakened when hall
rested. most of the Republicans begged,
n1etaphorically. TO be permitted to sleep on
There is little talk of bills TO be pressed,
serious discoura cement of plans for leglsla-
ton, and emphatic depreciation Of talk OF
harmony. We will do nothing but pass
the appropriation bills and go home vas
the almost invarfa bic answer to questions
regarding the work of the session. 4 few
insurgents talk differently. Some Of them
have plans at least partially rlatured for
measures they hops to pass. Others give
evidence Of serious ill-will toward the White
House, and devote their energy to CRITICS
ing the President and denouncing the regu-
lars for the defeat Of last month. few
are in no wise discouraged by the results
Of the election. They see therein, or be-
leve they see. an opportunity to advance
their own political fortunes, and now. a 5
always, the party veal Is a matter with
which they have no concern These men
will demonstrate TO you, if you will give
them the chance, that the elections proved
beyond peradventure the popularity of the
insurgent movement, the demand Of the
people for their type Of legislation, the dis
satisfaction of the masses with the tartn
bill, and the advisa bility OF immediate tar1r
revison-a view which is shared by many
insurgents, as it is unanimously opposed by
the regulars
FOR a TARIFF Co11MIssIoN-some of
the insurgents insist that the salvation Of
the party rests in the passage at this ses-
sion of a bill creating a permanent tariff
commission and committing Congress TO a
plan of revision schedule by schedule. They
assert that this plan would prove accept
able to the President. that IT would reflect
credit on the party, that without Demo
cratic opposition it would be passed with
comparatively little expenditure OF time,
but that were it defeated by q Democratic
filibuster, as it easily might be, such
course would bring odium on that party.
Those who urge this course assert that it
is idle merely to talk Of harmony and that
they cannot effect a reconciliation with the
White House on the basis Of patronage.
however generous the President may be.
They argue that harmony IS to be achieved
only by the presentation OF q concrete
measure to which the President will lend
his influence, and behind which all Repub
leans can rally and shoulder to shoulder
night the common enemy. That such a
measure would incur the bitter opposition
of such reactionary Democrats as Bailey,
Of Texas; Money, of Mississippi. and others
is obvious, and for that very reason those
who advocate it maintain that its passage
would reflect the utmost popular credit On
the Republicans.
WHAT KIND OF \ COMMISSION?-
AS expounded by an enthusiastic insur-
gent, the Plan sounds highly attractive.
But a question as to the kind Of commits
sion reveals the fly in the ointment. The
extreme insurgents want & commission
which would take the tariff out of poll
tics which would TO all intents and pur-
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