The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-03-15
TARIFF MAY HAVE TO WAIT
is NOT BELIEVED DEMOCRATS
WILL TACKLE 1T SOON.
Nav Address Themselves First to
Pruning Expenditures. Republic
cans Surprised at President.

Pruning Expenditures. kepubH-
cans Surprised at President.
WASHINGTON, d. C.-NOtwith-
standing the positiveness with which
President Taft had declared repeat
edly in all but direct and official
language that unless congress should
enact legislation to put into opera
ton the Canadian reciprocity agree
ment he would summon an extra SEES
sion TO resume consideration OF the
subject his fulfillment Of that threat
within two hours of adjournment
was a surprise TO many members
of that body. 1t was especially so
in the senate AS late as an hour be-
fore adjournment prominent sena-
tors and others about the capitol
made bets that there would be no
extra session.
Pressure nothing less than ire
mendous had been brought to bear
upon the administration and upon
members of congress to prevent call
ing of an extra session. Until the
last moment rumors were lncessant
that a way would be found to avoid it.
One of the most persistent was that
there were in progress some kind or
negotiations between the President
and the Canadian government look
ing to the withdrawal of the agree
ment by one party or the other so
as to give excuse for Withholding the
special call.
Surprise But No Welcome.
Some go so far as to say that if
certain senators had believed the
president would actually make good
his threat they would have made
strenuous efforts to pass the reci-
procity bill. Whatever may be the
degree or absence of truth in any of
these stories there can be no doubt
that that the issue of the presidents
extra session proclamation met Ecant
welcome at the hands Of those mem
bers of congress who after the stress
of the present session will barely
have time to go home for brief
respite and adjust their affairs for
another session which many think
will extend far into the summer.
There are those who believe it will
be so long as to leave only a con
structive recess" before the regular
session begins in December.
viii Tariff Go Over?
The best informed leaders Of both
the democratic and republican par
ties who are familiar with the tariff
questions realize that whatever may
be the sentiment throughout the
country there can be no sudden re-
ductiOn of customs duties. 1t is con-
ceded that even a democratic house,
which will Immediately be lombard
ed with demands for radical modifi-
cations of the tariff, or even the
destruction of the protective policy,
must of necessity proceed with eau
ton.
Democratic leaders of the house
will have many conferences during
the coming session with members of
their party in the senate. This fact
became known today when it was
announced unofficially that eXpendi-
lures will be considered in connec-
ton with revenues.
Appropriations for the most part
have been in the hands of the house
and senate committees on apprOpri-
atoms There have been a few ex-
ceptions. such as the bill for the
army, navy, pensions and pOstOfice
department, but for the most part
the great bulk Of the expenditures
have been passed upon by over work
ed committees on appropriations.
The effect has been that items aggre-
eating millions Of dollars have been
voted upon by the great body of
congress with little or no opportunity
for study of their merits. 1t was in
that way that the billion dollar
congress- was created.
Must Prune Expenditures.
Some of the democratic leader.
who have given thought to this sit
uatiOn have come to the conclusion
that they have before them a great
er work than revising the tariff
They realize that the executive de
partments are called upon to ex
pend great sums as the result O.
public sentiment and that congress
must supply the means for these ex
pendituTes or else cut the eXpendi
lures.
Confronted with the responsible,
Of initiating any revision of the tar
if, which may be attempted follow
ing action in the extraordinary ses
sion upon the Canadian Teciprocft,
agreement, the democratic leader
are already giving thought to til,
dilemma They realize; thar ii tarif
legislation should be passed by tn,
house which would provide INSULT
cient revenues the senate WouIt
probably at once amend it,