Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-28
Strenuous Debate Expected at
House Democratic Caucus.
TARIFF REVISION AS ISSUE
Committee Appointments Likely Also
to Cause Commotion.
MANY CONFLICTING CLAIMS
Leaders Hopeful, However, That As
signments Will Be Generally
Accepted by Members.

Next Saturday nights caucus OF the
democrats Of the House bids fair to be a
lively event IL the question Of tariff pro-
cedure is broached. 1t may be that the
caucus will be SO busy approving or criti-
cising committee assignments, however
that the broader questions will have to be
deferred to a later meeting.
The committee on ways and means.
which will present the list OF committee
men and chairmanships, does not appre-
hend any serious trouble over the selec-
tions however The members believe that
in the nature of things the caucus will
feel bound to accept the work of the COM
mttee as a whole. since to dissect 1t
would he to bring chaos.
They argue that they were charged by
the caucus last winter with the task of
framing the committees to the best OF
their ability, taking all things into con-
sideration, and that an undertaking of
this character, being based upon a balanc-
ing and distributing of conflicting claims
and desires. must be accepted or rejected
In its entirety.
Uncurbed Debate on Tariff.
No such pent-up Utica confines the
powers of the caucus as to tariff ques-
tions however. and there Is bound to be
division of opinion among the rank and
file as to procedure in the direction OF
tariff revision. 1t will be a conflict. it is
thought, between the elder statesmen
and the newcomers.
The committee on ways and means Is
expected TO recommend that after pass
ing the Canadian reciprocity bill the work
of the extra session shall be confined
IN he nf nm ny moss
echedules-wool and cotton. perhaps. The
new men. fresh from the people and
eager for record. may insist upon going
further in response to what they may
deem. the demand of the public for i'm
mediate relief and this will he the sub
Ject of argument before the caucus.
"Do it now!'' is expected to be the cry
OF the new men and they win have to be
reasoned with by the elder statesmen of
the party. who will urge that the time
10 not auspicious for general revision OF
the tariff. as the committee Is not IN
possession Of sufficient details upon which
DO work in such a highly technical un-
dertaking as a broad revision.
The committee has the facts upon which
% 6ose . revision OF the woolen sched-
u1e-that is 70 say. broad and general
auction and manufacture of wool and
Wooaen goods. And yet this information
- declared to be Of only the most general
character. warranting amending of sched-
ule X in what might properly be termed
an experimental Hlanner.
Attack to Be Made on Steel.
An attack upon the steel schedule is
expected as one of the features Of this
session. The American Federation of La
Dor u behind this movement and Is very
much in earnest. The first move will be
Cor an investigation Of the steel trust. a
continuation of the efforts of last session
which came to naught
Mr.. Stanley of Kentucky. who is the
principal in this move has been placed
on the committee on rules, and feels con-
fident of his ability to induce that COM
mittee to bring out a resolution author
izing the investigation BY this means
the labor men hope to attract public at
tention to the steel schedule and ultimately
to get action on it,