The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-12
At Caucus, Tuesday Evening,
House Majority Mapped
Out Work for the Special
Session.
BILLS INTRODUCES
TO-DAY, PAVE WAY
Wool and Cotton Schedules
Amended Next Patron
age Troubled More at Cau-
Gus than Legislation.
tAmerican News service)

tAmerican News Service)
Washington. April 12.--Although q
caucus of the Democratic members OF
the house last night failed to settle
the patronage muddle. leaders among
the house Democrats are beaming
with optimism today now that the
rank and file has agreed to plan to
pass the Canadian reciprocity agree
ment without a delay.
The caucus at which the legislative
program was partly completed did not
end until after one o'clock this morn
ing. This was due to the fact that
just as everybody was sleepily pre-
pairing to go home Representative
Bartlett of Georgia sprang ! patron
age question which has been = thorn
in the side of the Democrats ever
since the beginning OF the session
Bartlett and others wanted to dis
charge the new committee on organ
ization' which Is to distribute what
little pie" there is left. The trouble
is that each member. from the re-
|trenchment plans put into effect when
the session began. which abolished
$1S2. 600 worth of ofices. now has only
about 5000 worth Of jobs at his dis
posal After wrangling for an hour
over the patronage. the caucus took
no definite action, and for the present
will leave the problem to the commit
tee on organization.
Agricultural implements Free.
The patronage question probably
will be brought up again at the eau
Gus two weeks hence. A to reciprc-
city the caucus was not entirely har.
monious. A vote to take up rccipro-
city at any time in discretion Of the
ways and means committee was l28
to 20, six voting present and more
than score not voting at all. Tho
following articles were slated to 30
on the free list: Agricultural imple-
| ments. such as harrows. binders.
plows; boots and shoes, saddles. and
saddlery. wire fencing and baling
, wire, cotton bagging and ties, rough
| sacks and burlaps. -four. dressed
meats. sewing machines, salt and lum-
Der. excepting hardwoods. More than
a dozen Democrats on account OF
| campaign pledges asked to be excus-
ed from voting on reciprocity and
hence will not be bound by the eau
Gus action.
Want Concessions.
Representative Underwood. Demo
cratic leader. introduced In the house
today the Democratic Canadian reel.
procity bill which with minor excep-
tions is the same AZ the Mccall bill.
previously introduced. One difference
is the clause asking the president to
negotiate with Canada to obtain if
possible further concessions.
Went Out to the Game.
With the exception Of the introduc-
ton of the Canadian reciprocity bill
and Democratic measures placing ar
ticles used by farmers on the free list
the house transacted no important
business today. Az half OF the house
membership expects to seen the open
| ing baseball game between washing
ton and the Boston clubs this after
noon. there would be no quorum pres
ent- The Underwood reciprocity bill
provides for reciprocal concesGions
mainly on farming products crown IN
| the two countries and follows CLOSELY
provisions agreed upon Nv tho neEc-
tiators OF the two countries. The bi1l
provides for the removal of duty on
der the Payne-AIdrich bill.
1 & IF