Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-03-06
Develops That Many Senators
Believed President Taft Was
Bluffing and Would Not Fiji
fill His Threat.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
BEGINNING TO FALTER
Now Realize Tariff Legislation
Is Gigantic Proposition, I'M
mediate Action on Canadian
Reciprocity to Be Urged.
IBy Morning Journal Special Leased wlrsy

lBy Morning Journal Special Lsased wirel
Washington. March 5.--Notwith-
standing the positiveness with which
President Taft had repeatedly said, In
| all but direct and official language,
that unless congress should ratify the
Canadian reciprocity agreement. he
would summon an extra session to re-
sumo consideration OF the subject, his
| lfulfillment of that threat within two
hours of adjournment was an actual
surprise TO many members OF con-
gress.
II was especially so In the senate.
As late as an hour before final ad-
journment Yesterday leading senators
made bets there would be no extra
session.
Pressure nothing less than tremend-
GUS hard been brought TO bear upon
the administration and upon members
of congress to prevent the calling OF
the extra session Until the last mo-
ment rumors were incessant that a
way would be found to avoid II.
one OF the most persistent was
that there were In progress negota-
! tions between the president and the
Canadian government, looking to the
withdrawal of the agreement by ons
party or the other so as to give OK
cuse for Withholding the special call.
! Another rumor was that there was
an understanding between the presi-
dent and the republican leaders IN
congress that one or more of the ap-
preparation bills probably the general
deficiency bill. was TO be lost In the
situfiie. 40 that the special session
would be unavoidable.
still another was that the leaders
had determined to hold up some ap-
propriation In which the White House
was especially Interested and at the
last moment make Its passage condi-
tionnl upon the abandonment OF the
extra session project. The blockade or
the appropriation bills in the filibus-
ters In both houses yesterday tended
to give color to these stories.
Some go so far ms TO say that II cer-
tain senators had believed the presi-
dent would actually make good his
threat they would have made strenu-
Gus efforts to pass the reciprocity. bill
Whatever may be the truth there
can be no doubt that the presidents
extra session proclamation met scant
welcome at the hands OF those mem-
bers OF congress who, after the stress
of the last session. will hardly have
. tt.,,. "a f,v hpfof raonito m
adjust their affairs before another ses-
sion begins In December.
Any prediction OF the length of the
special secclon must be sheer specula-
ton. Democrats of the house who will
initiate tariff legislation, have had no
time to inaugurate plans. ANY pro-
gram prepared now or az eny time
within the next few weeks would be
subject to sweeping changes diotated
by contingencies and which the adj
mInistratlon the democratic house or
the republican senate neither could
foresee nor control
The best Informed leaders OF both
parties realize that whatever may DO
the sentiment throughout the country
there can be no sudden reduction OF
customs duties,
Democratic leaders of the house
will have mam conferences In the
coming session with members OF their
party In the senate. This fact became
known today when II was announced
that expenditures will be
considered in connection with revenue.
n was suggested that work Will he
given to the committees on expendi-
lures in the various departments,
which IN the past have been empty
assignments intended only to give to
the chairman thereof extra allowances
for clerk hire and similar perquisites.
Tho same condition of affairs has ex-
sted in the senate.
Some democratic leaders have come
10 the conclusion that they have be-
ore them greater work than revision
# the tariff. They realize that the eN-
Aeutive departments are called upon
o expcnd great sum OF money as to
he result OF public sentiment ana
hnt congress must supply the means
or these expenditures or else cut the
expenditures
Confronted with the responsibility
# initiating any revision Of the tariff
which may be attempted following ac-
ion upon the Canadian reciprocity
Igreemcn, the democratic leaders are
Ilready giving thought to the dilem-
M. they realize that II tariff legisla-
ion should be passed by the house
which would provide insufficient reve-
lues the senate probably would at
nee amend Il.
In the event Of supremacy Of tho
Iouse In conference which Is not im-
In view Of the fact that the
ennte will be barely republican and
portion Of its majority comprised OF
who may act with the DEM