Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-18
SHERWOOD BILL Is OPPOSED
Gore Would Have Action Postponed
Until Next Session
TARIFF BOARD WILL REPOR1
Democrats to Settle Raw Wool Fight
in Caucus.
LORIMER DEFENSE HAS INNING
senator from Illinois VIII Testify
Under oath for First Time Before
Committee Investigating
His Election,

WASHINGTON, Dec. IA sharp dl-
vision OF sentiment among senators re-
garding service pension legislation, pro-
tests against large congressional eNpendi-
lures, the Russian treaty question, con
tinued Investigations and enactment of
the urgent deficiency bill into law will
keep congress busy this week.
Both houses will adjourn next Thursday
until January 3. Plans are going forward
for what promises TO prove a congestion
Of legislation after the recess.
The Sherwood dollar a day pension bill,
which the house has passed, probably will
not find an easy way I'm the senate. Scna-
tor Gore OF Oklahoma, leading demo
cratic member Of the pensions committee.
already has started an inquiry into the
possibility of postponing action until the
next session, when there win be no presi-
Dental election.
In the house proceedings on the Sher-
wood bill the effect upon either party OF
marked liberality to the Mexican and civil
war veterans, aggregating possibly S75.-
00O,000 ultimately, was a conspicuous fac
tor, and Senator Gore contends that the
subject will not be so popular in congress
after the presidential election.
some Legislation Expected.
Senator McCumber. chairman OF the
pensions committee, while not committing
himself to the Sherwood bill. today ex-
pressed the opinion that some general
pension legislation would be enacted dur
ing this session OF congress.
I'VE should do now what we are going
to do regardless Of politics." he said.
He thinks congressional action should
depend on the state of the treasury. and
has taken steps 10 ascertain that, and to
determine what Verious plans OF legisls-
ton might cost. Secretary of the In
terror Fisher is investigating the cost.
The house democrats win caucus on a
number Of pending questions, probably
soon after the recess. The leaders con-
tend the economy program must be main
tanned; that some OF the demands OF COM
mittees and democratic members for ap-
pr0ptia.ions must be refused, but in such
a way as to avoid party dissension.
The pension bill, already passed by the
house, carrying from S40oOo.OOO to $1,000
600: the demand OF the public buildings
committee for an omnibus measure to
carry between s25. 900 and tSO,OOOOO and
other large drafts on the treasury, have
complicated the situation. Democratic
Leader Underwood insists that the pub
lie buildings bill shall not be put
through The work of the investigating
committees also is piling up expense ac-
counts.
Tariff Report Coming.
The tariff boards report is expected
from the president this week, but the
ways and means committee probably will
not recommend action on the wool or
other schedules until after the recess,
but will then proceed vigorously. The
democrats were not agreed last summer
as to the raw wool tariff, many favorlng
free raw wool.
This question. trust legislation and other
things will be considered in caucus. The
proposed plan 90 open the caucus TO the
public has developed strenuous opposition
from those democrats who believe party
differences should be settled behind closed
doors.
All the witnesses, who viii be heard in
the defense OF Senator Lorimer, except
Mr. Lorimer. himself. will appear before
the senate investigating committee this
week and the committee will then ad-
journ to meet after the Christmas recess
senator Lorimer Will testify under oath
for the first time
The steel trust investigating commit
tee Of the house and the senate commit
tee on interstate commerce. which Is In
vestigating trust problems will be in ses-
sion this week.