The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-13
Congressman Do Not Know
 What Will Happen
TAFT IS VERY FIRM
While the President Has Not Said That He Will Call an Extra Session It Now Looks
 Quite Possible

definite period to act upon the Canadian reciprocity agreement in extra session. Something positive on the subject from the White House would be especially ac- ceptable.
 There is some foundation for the report that President Taft is viewing with entire complacency the solicitude of members or the Senate on the subject of an extra ses- sion Several senators who feel that there is no chance for the approval of the agreement at the present session have found that this view Is not shared at the White House. The President has met all pessmistic predictions with the sugges- tion that he is willing to trust the agree meut to a vote. He has never said, for publication, that he would cali an extra session if such vote is denied, but sem ators certainly have failed to obtain as- surance that he would not do so
 Mccall Bill Will Come Up The Mccall bill to carry out the pro- visions of the Canadian agreement, hay ing been reported to the House from the ways and means committee. probably Wlls be brought up tomorrow. Immediate con sideration will be asked. If an agree mont to that end is opposed the supporters l of the bill will seek a rule for limitation | of debate and inhibition of amendment. In view of republican domination of the committee on rules which is headed | by Representative Dazell. as member | of the ways and means committee, voted | against reporting the bill. It may not De possible to get such a rule. At the same | time there has been manifested thus far no organized movement to prevent vote in the House. The consideration of the bill. nevertheless probably will result in one of the liveliest debates of the session. l The democrats of tine House are pledged | to the reciprocity agreement under the recent caucus action, although handful | of the minority will oppose the measure, being exempted under the caucus rule, which relieves members from being bound by the will of the party majority when such action brings them Into conflict with the expected will of their constituencies. A conference of democratic senators has been called for Tuesday, but it is expected that an adjournment will be taken until the House has acted upon the proposed agreement. Several democratic senators feel that they should not define their at- tiiude on the measure until they learn In what form It will be presented to them.
 Several Matters Ahead
 The indications are that Senator Brown of Nebraska will not have to invoke his | threatened opposition to appropriation bills in order to bring about votes on the resolution providing for popular elec- ton of senators, the Lorimer case, the | service pension bill and the bill to ere ate permanent tariff board. The situ- ation in regard to these measures has changed during the last week. It is ex- tremely probable now that the Senate will vote upon all of them before the ses- sion adjourns.
 A canvass as careful as 1t is possible to make at this time. but nevertheless not intended to be regarded as other than speculative, seems to justify the state- ment described as follows:
 Popular election of senators probably will be defeated by reason of injection of the race question into the discussion of the resolution. Even without the speech by Senator Root on Friday, which melted the indignation of Senator Bacon and others from southern states, this issue could not have been avoided. An amend ment to the resolution had already been offered by Senator Sutherland, which southern members say is as obnoxious 10 them as was the force" bill. It seems practically certain that this amendment | will be adopted. and its effect certainly would be to alienate southern support, thus making impossible the necessary two-third vote of the Senate for the main bill.
 Fate of Senator Lorimer
 The fate of Senator Lorimer is doubt full All of the polls that have been made have been based upon the Beveridge | resolution which declares the election Of | Se''ayor Lorimer to have been accomp- | lis by corruption. If the case should | come before the Senate in that form the indications based upon poll of the Sen ate by members friendly to the exonera- tfon of Senator Lorimer are that the election will be declared invalid and his seat therefore vacant. If
 It Is possible that friends of Senator Lorimer will succeed in substituting a resolution declaring merely the charges | of corruption against MT Lorimer have not been proved. There are a number of senators who feel that they cannot refuse to vote for the Beveridge rsolution and yet they are not convinced that Mir Lori mer was cognizant of any bribery These senators, it is said. would vote for a res- olution 10 the effect that the evidence proves Mir Lorimer guilty of corruption If Mir. Lorimer's friends prove the more adept in parliamentary tactics they may win in the struggle on the floor of the Senate.
 Tariff Board Has Chance
 A week ago the measure to provide for permanent tariff board seemed to be ir | uapser or deIeat Dy reason of almost solid democratic opposition There has been a considerable change in sentiment in the Il Senate minority. Led by Senator Money number of those who believed the pas sage of the bill would strengthen Presi- dent Taft politically have arrived at the conclusion that democratic opposition would simply convince the country that the democrats of the Senate and House dc not coincide. Administration leaders will tell President Taft tomorrow that the Till will go through,
 A most interesting situation exists in respect to the service pension bill The House passed the Subway bill into the present age pension law, so that at the age of 62 years the rate will be sl5 a | menth instead of SIP. and providing for ctber increases as fellows
 | At 65 years from $l2 to $20: at 70 years from $15 to s25, and at 5 years, from $G to s56. Ii is estimated that this bill would | cost about s50010.000 year in addition to tho $i53.000.0G0 estimated for the ensuing l year.
 Pension Bill Plans
 The Senate committee on pensions has had this bill before it for several weeks | and there have been several other meas ures pending. some of which would be more and some less costly. The commit. | tee will meet tomorrow and 1t is said tho Sulloway bill will be reported, although there may be a rsnority report on 6 measure which would cost the first year only about $S,500.000. Several senators have opposed passing any measure now on the ground that no provision has beer