The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-17
TARIFF TINKERERS
OPERATING IN
THE DARK
CONTINUED from list page)

itNtnhG ltdueIs ulu themselves uH-
horsed and the radical free traders
are in the saddle AT least, they are
numerically in the majority as among
the democratic membership OF the
House. If they see 1T TO disregard
the beseechng and advice Of the more
far-seeing brethren they will take the
bit between their teeth, and, riding
roughshod over the opposition within
and without their own party, put
through fiat trade measures without
end.
Just here lies all the democratic
danger. The action of this coterie
may hopelessly wreck the democratic
vision OF sweeping victories during
the next eighteen months, and send
the whole party once more into poll
tical oblivion. This may be done by
the reckless insistence of the radical
majority to infiict fiat free trade on
the country all along the line. OF
course such program would inevita-
bly, fail from the fact that it could
never get through the senate, but such
an indication of party policy and inten-
ton would scare the country into blue
fits Quite regardless OF party afiili-
atoms, the financial standing of the
country would be wrecked. 1t would
be bankrupt, for the excellent reason
that its income would be half thous.
and millions of dollars less than its
absolutely necessary expenses on any
conceivable basis of economy.
These facts are fully realized by the
more conservative democrats and in
all matters OF revision they apprehend
the necessity Of cutting their garment
according to their cloth. Inevitably
enough revenue must be left to pay
current expenses, and reduce expenses
as they perhaps may it is seen that
not many millions of the present in
come can be spared. Therefore, in
the language of the innocent bystand-
er, they are up against it, good and
proper" Between what they must do
and what they want to do great gulf
is fixed. They will be damned if they
don't, and the treasury at least, not
to mention possible multitude of
business industries and industrial en-
terprises will be damned If they do.
Certainly between the devil and the
deep blue sea the lot of the tariff re-
wiser is not a happy one.
AS regards the senate, not man
in the body desired an extra session
and it was and is generally regarded
as unnecessary and disastrous. No
body has the inclination or desire to
take up matters Of constructive legis-
lation BY both parties and all fac
lions the session is regarded as a de-
plorable blunder. Under such circum-
stances the ordinary incentive TO Wig
orous and effective work is lacking.
They feel that they have been driven
to water Immediately after they have
drank to repletion. and whatever more
they are forced to drink is naturally
abhorrent and distasteful. in word
every action of the session is perform
ed under protest. A boy who is COM
PEELED to hoe potatoes under the hot
sun when there is no necessity what
ever for it and the work is given as a
punishment is not at all enthusiastic
about his work, and-the potatoes are
not very well hoed. There's the whole
situation here in a nutshell.
The House adjourned from last Fri
day TO tomorrow, when 1t will take
up the resolutions for the admission
of Arizona and New Mexico as states
Three days are to be devoted to gen
eral debate, and the bill will pass the
last of the week In the case of Ariz-
ona an amendment will be adopted to
the effect that the territory shall vote
once more on the recall provision in
its proposed constitution and New
Mexico will be required as requisite
to admission that 1t vote again on the
section in it's constitution limiting the
time when amendments to its consti-
tuition may be proposed. IN other
words, to take off "the time lock" AT
ter this week most anything or moth
ing may happen in the House. 1t de-
ponds entirely on the radicals.
The senate was in session about
seven hours last week, all told, and
accomplished nothing. After Thurs
days Intellectual squabble over the cleo
ton of a president protempore 1t adj
journed to today, when the fight may
be resumed or any compromise may
result. Or, the subject may be indef-
initely postponed. Daily sessions are
expected during the week, and mean
while the public hearings on reciproc-
ity will go on. There are so many
yet anxious to be heard that the hear
ings may continue through the week.
In that event the bill will not get into
the senate. Some of the time at least
will probably be devoted to the cleo
ton of senators resolution, the unfin-
ished business now before the senate.
This subject should not engage the
attentions of the senate more than ten
days but with constant Interruptions
it may be spun out much longer.
Already, with the advent of scorch-
ing weather, both houses are anxious
ly clamoring that business be forced
to an adjournment sometime next
month, certainly, and it is now the
general impression that the latter half
of June will see congress out of here
Only unnecessary procrastination will
prevent it and there will be small pa
tience with that. Congress takes the
view that it was bad enough to be call
ed back here unnecessarily and I'M
and they simply will not
make Washington a summer resort
In view of all that has gone before 1t
is illogical to base any opinion on the
Ioofc oP pracant conditions and the