The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-04
POLITICS THE CHIEF
THOUGHT JUST NOW
Congress to Meet Today and
Plans for Next Year viii
Dominate Session.
SOME LIVE QUESTIONS
Democrats and Republicans
Alike Seek to Make the Best
of Present Issues.
BY EDWARD MARSHALL.
BY Leased Wire to Tho Tribuno.


By Leased Wire to The Tribune.
WASHINGTON. u. c.. Dec. 3.-Poli-
tics. then politics. and after that. moro
politics. VIII comprise the business OF the
sixty second congress Arst regular ses-
sion. That sounds like football, doesn't
81? Well, / have seen some football
games this fan which were less interest
ing than the political game Will be here
AT the capitol this winter. And less bru-
tai. probably. There is more mercy in
"A scriInmaEc than would bc shown IN
somo coming caucuscS-
No imperative legislation, save the ap-
propriation bills. is pending, but Nhere
arc a great gross OF imperative axes
waiting 10 be ground. AS soon as some
Of them arc sharp enough they VIII be
used upon craniums Which, In the opln,
ion OF the men who WELD them, need
them most. There has been a lot OF
tomahawkIng done on PENNSYLVANIA ave
ises 10 CLEAN In history a carnival OF
gorc-all mctaphoricol. OF course, bur
very fatal 10 the victims. despite us
mctaphoricism or course. the tarin viii
be argued, and some fine fights for re-
ductlon and increases will be made;
changes in the interstate commerce law
trust law VIII occasion some ohiciai
gossip on the noor-wcll some; and con-
scrVation viii undoubtedly be argued pro
and con with not a little rancor: but
session will be earnestly political.
High Prices an Issue.
Mr.. Taft's Outlook interview. given 10
Francis L. Logpp; at virsinia lot lot
done things during his administration
which had he an opportunity 10 do
again. he might do differently. occ3-
stoned no very great excitement. His
statement thai he did not look for much
reduction In the cost of living was
disappointment to his friends. Kcpub-
leans and Democrats alike agree that
the cost of living is beginning TO be
political question of enormous moment.
II is generally believed that there VIII
he no great surprise In the presidential
message. n will attract moro attention
as Mr.. Tafts appeal on duties than any
Sensational features In its subject mat
ter. Federal Incorporation. amendments
10 the sherman act and strong plea
to the senate for tho ratification of the
arbitration treaties VIII be the most i'm
por,aut of tho subjects IL Will deal with.
The Panama canals administration Is
beginning 10 loom large. now that the
great ditch * approaching completion;
and the presidents reference 10 that Win
he received with interest. To my mind
his army reorganization plan. which Will
provide Tor the elimination of existing
departments and the substitution OF di-
VISIONS Therefore. VIII he among its most
important ieatures-but. then. j am as
sured by friends that I am an army
crank. glory in tho. reputation. His
reCommends tions Of military admlnlstra-
ton for the Panama canal zone may
meet with opposition, hut the armv's rec
ords ID dom ia Cuba aud in Porto Rico and
in~ Philippines We're so lnc thai the op-
position Will possibly be early qucllcd.
Trust Legislation.
Nlr TafCS main argument for new trust
legislation will he. ! am Informed, the
fact that the existing law seems to
battle au interpreter. His tariff recon-
produced Ia advance.
The meeting OF the national committee
mere December 10 Il not expected To de-
yclop anything exciting. No ono seems
quite willing 10 prcpheSv what VIII be
done with Senator Bourne's late sugScs-
tions, which may be voted on aud then
again may not.
Mr.. Taft's friends have expressed their
firm belief that only three members Of
t1c national committee-Roser Of Wis
Borsh Of 1daho--arc really hostile 10
them. or even possibly hostile. and that
Bordh $ hostility Is doubtful. But ! have
sad underestimate. The talk o( the So
lection o! national chairman AT this
meeting IS regarded by tho wise as quite
unJustihed. 4 somewhat expected devel-
Oh" !nspired statement tha, Mr.. Taft will
not insist on the selection Of Collector
Loeb for the position.
Ibs suggestion that a definite effort
viii be made 10 bring about presiden-
tai primaries may he regarded az hav-
ing been almost officially coutradcted
10 tho President HiIes hasteus TO dcny
that he personally Gavors such "A plan
ne SAYS that as az present there Is no
law 10 govern such primary tho matter
would be difficult OF arrangement Such
primaries held now would invite repeat
erS: Democrats could not be excluded,
and the deuce VIII be TO pay il The at
Tempt should be made. he seems 10
think and who would pay the cost?
There arc no public funds available
For time II was believed Chicago
Hsf.I sFf hT oil
- possible convention cities. but nearly
al The talk | heard today emphaticallv
iaVors Denver. ST. Louis seemed 10 be
N the running. but has undoubtedly los,
friends Of lstc. One. thing is certain.
aud THAI Is that tie convention VIII bc
carly The president and HIS friends are
aiHious for long campaign,
Underwood's Views,
Chairman Underwood of the house
WAYS and means committee. himself
presidential possibility Of moment not
actually possibility has boou speskinC
very courteousiy Of Mr Taft since nc
tl@ Democrats VIII recognize the fact
iuat Mr, TAFT should be permitted TO
have first word in the matter OF sue-
G"s'iuE tariff legislation. aud that " he
does not walt too long he viii certainly
he given an opportunity TO make recon-
mendauons founded on the findings OF the
'Hiltt board before anything is done bp
ih" Democrats. Mr. Underwood declares
the tariff Will furnish the chief work or
tpnErcsS and he believes the presidential
veto OF the wool bill was tho greatcst
TAft mistake. lie seems anxious also TO
hefc tho burden OF suggestions concern
Ing trust legislation placed upon the
shoulders Of the president, for he declares
his satisfaction with the Sherman law
The work Of congress will doubtlcs.
b" facilitated by tho representatives Of
committees on the special subiacts on
which they have been at work while
congress slept. There are several Of
ihesc. The manner in which the tariff
hoard has spont its appropriation 81
S@'0.cao has been pretty well announced
n has worked hard and will bc resd,.
10 report soon sftcr congress opens iipon
wool ann cotton perhaps. Another in :
terestiaS report win come from tho COM
wifi"e nu economy aud sfficiencv. which
has had about 5000 600 to spend in The
course Of its investigations This board
has consulted experts IN almost every
liuc IN which the government can posxi
he interested. and ~ Is generally believed
.iS report viii be OF great assistance i'm
reorganization upon practical modern
Vues
Postal Report.
The report OF the postal committee IS
Iaid 10 be almost ready Tor presentation
aud the moot subject of rates on second
lass mali matter may possibly he set