The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1911-05-25
REPUBLICANS DECIDE TO HAVE
ANOTHER INQUIRY BY CON-
MlTTEE ON ELECTION.
LA TOILETTE is HEADED OFF
Democrats Favor Observation-Disclosures
tons of Illinois State Legis-
Iature Cause of
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| washington, May ga prompt anu
sweeping injury into new charges
against Senator Lorimer of Illinois
growing out of the investigation by
the Illinois state legislature was as
! sured when the regular Republicans
presented in the senate resolution
calling for the conduct Of such inquiry
under the direction of the senate COM
mittee on privileges and elections.
The Democratic senators will sup
port the resolution, which will be a
| substitute for the LaFollette resolution
naming a special committee of new
| senators to take up the inquiry.
/ The Democrats held caucus and
decided in favor of the resolution di-
recting the inquiry by the regular SEN
ate committee. The meeting which
was secret lasted two hours and there
developed early decided difference
| of opinion as to the best methods of
procedure in pressing for the reinvesti-
| cation. Several members of the steer
| ing committee insisted that it should
| be undertaken by special committee
to be appointed by the senate while
| others of whom Senator Martin, the
| chairman, was said to have been the
leader, held out for reference of the
entire matter to the committee on
privileges and elections. This 1t was
charged, might mean the smothering OF
| the entire subject if the committee SO
desired.
Eventually, however, the two fac
| lions compromised by agreeing to con-
certed action to have the La Toilette
resolution referred to the committee
on privileges and elections with in
structions to begin at once another in
vestigation of the charges against Sen
ator Lorimer. All of the evidence ad-
duced by the Investigations of the ILL
nois legislature will be utilized and
several new witnesses are held in
readiness.
Senator Dillingham;, chairman of the
committee on privileges and elections,
introduced the resolution. 1t is prob
able that the committee on elections
will be directed to conduct the in
vestigation through subcommittee. to
be chosen from its own members, but
affirmed by the senate.
Nelson Attacks Reciprocity.
Washington, May 2S-In brief talk
before the finance committee of the
senate, Senator Nelson, of Minnesota,
took occasion to present his views
with respect to his amendments to
the Canadian trade agreement which
he hopes to see the committee or the
senate incorporate in the measure.
Mr. Nelson not only argued in support
of his amendments, but he took this
opportunity of presenting to the COM
mittee an outline of what will be an
extended argument to be delivered by
him on the floor of the senate as to the
legal aspects of the trade agreement
and the action of President Taft in
formulating and presenting, in the
form it was offered, the agreement
with Canada.
That part of Mr.. Nelson's argument
before the committee regarding the
constitutional features of the trade
agreement controversy turned out to
be nothing short of a severe arraign-
ment of the course of President Taft.
Mr.. Nelson contended that the agree
thority which gave rise to it, is moth
ing short of a formal treaty; that as
such treaty it should have been first
presented to the senate for ratifica-
ton, because the senate is made by
the constitution part of the treaty
making power of the republic.
Mr. Nelson pointed out that the
agreement for reciprocity with Cana
da which was concluded by this gov
eminent in 1854, and which remained
as a part of the law of the land for
period of more than 10 years, had
been concluded as treaty, was ap-
proved by two-thirds vote of the SEN
ate as the constitution requires treat
les shall be approved, and that this
was the constitutional method of max
ing a treaty.
Alleges Wrong Procedure.
1t was contended by Mr.. Nelson in
his argument that unless the agree
ment with Canada is treaty, it 10
nothing short of an agreement entered
into by President Taft to use "his ut
most endeavors' (Which is the lam
guage employed in the correspondence
passed in connection with the agree
ment) to secure from congress assent
to the making of certain changes in
the customs laws of the United States.
That as such a measure effects the
revenues of the country, it should
have originated in the house of rep
resentatives, as the constitution re-
quires, instead of in the executive Of
fees Mr. Nelson intends to follow up
this argument in an elaborate form
when the reciprocity agreement shall
be before the senate.
In regard to his several amendments
affecting farm products that are
touched by the trade agreement, Sen
ator Nelson contends that farm prod
ucts, notably cereals, are now entitled
TO protection. In response to a ques-
ton by Senator Stone whether the
Minnesota senator was not occupying
position different from what he