The Washington herald., 1911-07-30

Democrats In both the Senate and
House continue to be considerably per-
turbed over the political effect Of the
coalition with the Republican insurgents
on the Senate side. The Democrats, as
q matter Of fact, appear to be worrying
more over their questionable political re-
lations with the insurgents than is Presi-
dent Taft over the likelihood that he
win be called upon to pass on legisla-
ton revising the woolen schedule.
Mr.. Taft's political advisers are daily
becoming more firmly convinced that
the vetoing by him of a hybrid wool
bill not only will not injure him politi-
cally, but will afford him the opportunity
Of dealing the most effective blow pos
sible at the Republican insurgent con-
spiracy, which has sought to make a
great economic question a football of
politics.
II the Democrats only knew what rec
ommendations President Taft will make
next December for a revision OF the
woolen schedule, they would find great
deal more comfort and exultation in
the present situation.
Democrats Are Uneasy.
Ever since they consented. however,
to become the tail to Senator La Fol-
lette's Presidential kite, their uneasi-
ness has been growing. The Senate
Democrats by accepting the La Toilette
compromise wool bill subscribed to an
admittedly protective measure, based on
a IS per cent duty on raw wool.
The House Democrats are now seri-
ously asking themselves the question
what will be the situation Of the party
next December toward wool revision II
they follow the lead of their fellow
ar1I ant q
protective bill. They are pointing out
that there is a possibility that Mr.. Taft s
tariff board may find that the wool
schedule in the Payne-Aldrich law should
be reduced even to the extent OF the
rates proposed in the La Toilette meas
ure.
In the event Of President Taft making
such a recommendation next December,
based upon the scientific data of the
tariff board, House Democrats are seri-
ously wondering now they would be able
to oppose it in view of the party's record
in supporting the La Toilette compro-
mise wool bill in the present session.
Democratic House leaders appreciate that
IL they join in voting through protec-
tive wool bill they will not have leg
to stand on when Mr.. Taft sends his
message in next December, asking for
reductions in the wooden schedule. And
they realize, too, that IL they are obliged
to support a TAFT administration wool
bill the President will get the lions
share of the credit when it becomes
law.
Bill Not Acceptable.
The possibility of this complication
next December is causing the House
leaders to think twice over the attitude
that they will take toward the bill that
has been sent over to them by the Demo-
cratic-insurgent coalition in the Senate.
Representative Underwood, the majority
leader in the House, and Speaker Clark
declared again yesterday that the La
Toilette bill would not be acceptable
to the House.
The probability is now that the House
will nonconcur, and send the bill back
to the Senate, leaving 1t for the upper
branch of Congress to ask for con-
ference. BY putting It up to the Senate
to ask for a conference on the La Fol-
lette substitute bill, the House leaders
seem to feel that in form at least, they
will have avoided even a suggestion Of
Reputation Of their own House measure.
While the Democrats are hesitating
and halting, It Is practically certain that
some sort Of a wool revision bill will
be evolved by the conference commit
tee and will be put up to President Taft.
The impression is that the Senate Demo-
Gratis have gone too far in the matter
now to draw back on the wool bill, but
the situation will have a SOLDERING effect
so far as other tariff revision is con-
cerned at this session.
The farmers free list bill, with amend
ments eliminating all products Of the
farm, will probably be passed and put
up to the President, but the prospect
now is that the revisions Of the cotton,
steel, iron. chemical, and other schedules
viii be postponed until the beginning Of
The regular session in December.