The Washington herald., 1911-02-25
SENATE GETS BUSY
ON ITS PROGRAMME
Tuesday Set as Date to Vote
on Direct Election.
EXTRA SESSION A GAMBLE
waEers at Capitol About Even, but
White House UIdmatum Remains
Unchanged-ReciprOc Bill Re-
ported ~Without Recommended
tfon--outIoOk Not Bright.

Gloomy forebodings as to a general fail
ure of programme in the Senate at this
session were somewhat dispelled late yes
terday afternoon.
Filibustering parties were acknowledged
to have gained control of the body, and
it was beginning to be recognized that
few of the pending major measures be-
yond the appropriation bills could be
passed. when Senator Borah pushed for
ward the unfinished business, and Sc
cured vote which led up to an agree
mert to vote on the Senatorial election
resolution next Tuesday.
By one of the largest total votes ever
recorded in that body, the Senate adopt
cd, by a comfortable majority, the Suth-
erland amendment to the elections resolu-
tion. Eighty-eight senators were present
and voting
Many Senators rubbed their eyes in
establishment a few moments later when
the Senate came within an ace of settling
a date for the disposition of the Lorimer
resolution, against which a determined
tlibuster had been organized. On plea
of Senator La Toilette the matter went
over. There was the tentative promise
of a vote some time next week Senator
Hale delivered a few words of pread-
journment encouragement, but said moth
ing concerning the Canadian reciprocity
measure. His remarks related principally
to the brighter outlook for the appro
priation bills. whose course was threat
ened by the earlier turmoils of the day.
1t appears that the temper of the Sen
ate at present still calls for failure to
act before the end of the session on the
Canadian reciprocity bill, the tariff COM
sg.-sr,r Iii EsV,I1~ 4
service pension measure. As to the extra
session which threatens to follow the
laying aside of the former measure, the
obstructive faction in the Senate reasons |
that such an event is for the President |
TO determine The Senate, in a word |
unwilling to reach vote on the reciproc- |
Ity bill, is inclined to gamble with the !
President as to the Consequences sum- |
Ter of tariff turmoil or several peaceful |
months of recess with no one to bring |
up reciprocity or any other measure but |
the folks at home.
Extra Session Hanging Fire.
Wagers are about even at the Capitol |
that President Taft will listen to the
appeals of the business interests and de-
clare a summer Of no session and peace.
At the White House. however, it is diff
ferent, and the uItimatum of an extra
session remains stif and unchanged.
If they do not believe / will call an
extra session, suppose they try me and
find out is understood to be the sum-
mary of the Presidents expressions
when the daily bulletin from the Sem
ate, Nothing doing" is unfOlded to him
and the famous Taft smile is said to be
missing as he makes the observation.
The extra session matter, in fact, has
gone so far beyond the initial stages of
of hn
the President is already dickering with
the Democratic leaders in the House as
to the exact date when it should be
called. While the Senate is wondering
whether President Taft really intends to
summon Congress back to work, he is dis
cussing with Representative Underwood
and others the advisability of placing the
reconvening date on March 20 or
April 3
The point made by the Democrats that
A little time will be needed in which to or
ganize the House machinery for work is
being considered by the President, with
the chances in favor of compliance.
Reciprocity Bill Reported.
The reciprocity bill was reported to the
Senate by the Finance Committee with
out amendment and without recommend
alton" All sorts of misery is planned
for It when it comes up for discussion
Senator Cummins' resolution calling
upon the President to supply data on
various commodities which the tariff
board is supposed to have gathered was
widely discussed yesterday, and the fact
came out that there was design on. the ,
part of Senator Cummins in introducing ;
ii which did not show on the surface of
the action.
1t is understood that he hopes in the I
first place to prove a theory that has
been quite prevalent with those hostile
10 reciprocity since the agreement was
made, which theory has it that the Presi-
dent used few if any of the tariff board ]
findings in drawing his conclusions as ! ]
to what the Canadian agreement should s
contain. 1t is whispered that the data
thus far by the board to de-
termine the difference in the cost of pro-
duCing commodities at home and abroad Z
will show some things which do not I
bear out the advisability of entering into I
a reciprocity agreement with Canada
An instance given is the duty on print
paper and wood pulp. 1t is rumored that
the board findings thus far in that con-
nection disclose a tariff that is much too s
low. Chairman Emery. of the tariff board,
in the sundry civil bill hearing recently
held by the Committee on Appropriations
OF the House, asserted that agents had v
been busiiy engaged on the paper sched- S
ule for several weeks. and had not only +
investigated nearly all the important pa
per mills of the United States, but several c
in Canada.
Mr.. Emery declined to give any of the
findings, and also declined to tell whether
any of the information collected had been I
turned over to the Chief Executive. Sena- q
tor Cummins hopes by the passage OF his
resolution to bring out a number of inter I
esting facts in connection with the tariff
board doings, which may or may not help
along the cause of Canadian reciprocity.
Figuring on the course of the Demo
rats in the event of an extra session 7