The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-09
Cummins Resolution Propos-
ing Modification of Senate
Rules Not Well Received
by Democrats.
ALDRICH'S CLIQUE
ALSO OPPOSING 1T
Iowa Senator Fighting to
Make 1t Easy to Get
Prompt Consideration on
All Tariff Bills.
palladium Specially


Washington, D. c., Dec. "a lively
fight in the senate on Senator Cum
Minis resolution proposing a modifica-
tion of the senate rules to permit the
revision of the tariff, schedule by sche-
dule, is foreshadowed. Senator Cum
Minis has given intention of address
ing the senate in support of his reso-
luton on Monday. Senator Hale has
already gone on record as vigorously
opposed to the resolution of the sena-
tor from Iowa. Senator Hale charac-
terizes the proposed modification of
the senate rules as Revolutionary
The conservative Republican senators
will probably line up behind Mr.. Hale
in opposition, and the indications are
that the Democrats will also oppose
Senator Cummins's resolution because
they believe that in cutting off amend
ments the resolution would practical
ly impose on the senate q form of
cloture rule which the Democratic
senators have always been opposed.
1t looks now as If the resolution of the
senator from Iowa were doomed to
fail, and the probability is that it will
command only the votes of the insur-
gent Republicans. The two modifica-
tions of the rules proposed by Sena-
tor Cummins, while general in their
application, are intended by their au-
thor to make 1t possible to get prompt
consideration in the senate for tariff
bills that propose revision of single
schedule, and to facilitate the passage
by cutting off the right to amend
An Important Feature.
One amendment proposed by Sena-
tor Cummins makes it possible after
a measure has been in the custody of
a committee of the senate for sixty
days, for any senator to call it up for
consideration, regardless of whether
1T has been reported from the com.
mittee or not. The other modification
proposed is that no amendment shall
be in order to the pending bill, ex.
cept one that relates to the schedule
covered by the bill. Some of the
Democratic senators like the view that
this limitation upon amendments will
practically rob the senate of the power
to participate in tariff legislation. Bill
relating to revenue must originate in
the House, under the constitution. II
the senate is deprived of the power to
amend such legislation after it comes
from the House it will practically have
no voice in tariff legislation, as some
of the Democrats view the situation
Back Q the differences of opinion
over the merits of the quesction OF
procedure is bit of partisan jockey.
ing for advantage in initiating tariff
legislation. Undoubtedly Senator
Cummins is trying to pave the way for
the introduction in the House of Rpe'
|resentatives with the hopes of passing
it at this session, of legislation revis
ing the tariff, schedule by schedule
If Senator Cummins could get this
resolution adopted, modifying the rules
one of his progressive friends in the
House would promptly produce a bill
attacking one of the tariff schedules
and the progressives would line up be
hind it and invite the Democrats to
join them. The Democrats evidently
want to reserve the privilege OF revis
ing the tariff for the Democratic
House which will begin work a year
hence. The fight will be interesting
The progressives expect to show uI
the Democrats as allies of the senate
"reactionaries."