Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-01
Better POLITICAL RESULTS ARE
HOPED FOR BY UNITING
ISSUES.
PROBABLE ADJOURNMENT
IN JUNE OR JULY
Among Important Actions by Short
Session 10 Disposal Of Reciprocity
Agreement, Direct Elections Of Sen
ators and Revision Of Cotton and
Wool Schedules Of Tariff Law.

Washington. April 1.-The leaders Of
the democratic party In the house are
not aiming at prolonged special ses-
sion or at a multitude Of issues. ac-
cording to present indications. Pend
ing the caucus OF democrats. Saturday.
no definite program is being formu-
lated. Yet it is known that some Of
the democratic leaders consider it wise
to make few issues sharply and then,
adjourning perhaps in June or early
July. to let the summer and fall pass
in preparation for further tariff revi-
sion. The conditional program, which
is likely to be proposed to the caucus,
is about this:
Reciprocity.
Wooden and cotton schedules and
perhaps one other.
Direct election Of senators.
Reapportionment OF congressional
representation.
Perhaps some legislation for the Dis
trict OF Columbia
This program proceeds from the
moderately conservative leaders, who
are anxious to see that the democracy
makes no mistakes on first assuming
power. 1, is based on the belief that
the party will be far better OF with
short record OF well considered legis-
lation than a long record with greater
possibility OF ENHANCEMENT. The adj
vantage Of limiting the short session to
those particular issues is that they
have been much thought upon by the
az 10 n
bership with some knowledge Of public
opinion.
Democrats For Reciprocity.
The democrats are already pretty
well committed to reciprocity. and 50
they have nothing to lose by enacting
that measure. Tho common belief
among democrats u that, while they
may lose little among farmers preju-
diced against reciprocity. they will
share that loss with the republican adj
ministration in the White House. So
on that score they viii break about
even. But they expect to gain not =
little with the great mass OF consumers.
not only because they will do their best
for reciprocity upon which Z republi-
can congress failed to act. but also be-
cause they intend to 60 further IN the
consumers interest
The textile schedules are obviously
the next point Of attack for tho demo-
crats. The weakness OF these sched-
ules has been acknowledged by Presi-
dent Taft, and the democrats therefore
figure that It will be difficult for him
to veto a sensible revision OF either or
both those schedules. Then, too. they
have the advantage Of q great mass OF
information about the tariff on tex
tiles. During the debate on the Payne
Aldrich bill much solid Information
was given on both cotton and woolens.
the speech Of Senator Deliver along
that line being perhaps the most pow
erful Of the entire session. So 1t hap
pens that the democrats need not go
far for Information or suggestions.
Hearings are not desired by the ways
and means committee. and are not
likely to be held. The committee has
chosen as its clerk a statistictan who
was formerly employed to work on tex
tile schedules in the census bureau
With his help and with the work OF
several other statisticians and clerks,
they expect to shape up the textile
schedules without serious delay.
Further Action Unlikely.
On these tariff issues the democratic
ways and means committee Ia prepared
to act advisedly and also with the
chance Of pleasing the people II it
can not get the republican senate and
administration TO pass and sign meas
ures on these subjects. there would
not be much chance to secure action
upon subjects the mistakes regarding
which are less obvious. So the trend
OF advice is to stop here. II the republi-
-
reasonable promptness. Only in case
session is forced late into the summer
anyhow, Is 1t advised that further
schedules be prepared.
General legislation Of limited amount
is regarded as essential to democratic
prestige. The house leadership Is de.
sirous Of recognizing the popular de-
mand for direct election Of senator's,
and prompt action by the house will
also tend to keep the republican pro-
Eressives In the senate from getting
the chief credit for this reform. Il l.
evident that both house and senate
will pass the resolution within two or
three years at the most, and tho chief
credit in the senate during the last
session went to the progressives and
more particularly to Borah, Of Idaho.
Next time the democrats want to at
least share the credit
Rsapportionmsnt Necessary.
Congressional reapportionment Il
necessary II the democrats are to use
ito best advantage their majorities in
various state legislatures. 1mmedi-
ate action at the special session will
permit the legislatures now in session
to redistrict their states before adjourn
ment One effect OF this will be to
make gerrymandering work little
more 70 the advantage Of the demo-
Gratis than It has been In northern
states during recent years. Another
distinct advantage to be gained is
thru the increased representation of
urban districts as q result Of tho last