The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-27
our WASHINGTON Letter
John Harris Writes Of Affairs at Nat
lonal Capital


Iona Capital
Washington, May 25.-At last the
senate has done something Yester.
day it passed the bill introduced last
winter by Senator Dillingham; proyid-
ing for the prompt removal OF snow
and ice from the sidewalks OF Wash
ington. This was probably considered
an emergency measure, otherwise ac-
ton on II would not have been so
prompt While the bill was sliding
through the thermometer stood at 100
degrees all over the premises. The
moral OF this teaches that all things
come to those who wait, provided they
start young and die reasonably early.
Nevertheless this legislative encour
agement did not perceptibly improve
the strategic position of reciprocity,
the election of senators or the bill to
pension Jim Smith. With the excep-
ton of the middle one OF the above
these are all in statu quo or worse.
There is some prospect that some
thing will be done with the popular
election of senators resolution in the
not distant future. 1t appears that
the subject was SO nearly talked to
a fragile last winter, that nobody
cares to wade into it extensively at
this time, and as Senator BOrah keeps
insisting on action on 1t early and
late it now looks as If a vote might
be had on it before long. In fact, as
long as it has the right Of way and
can be kept constantly before the SEN
ate until settled it would seem that a
vote cannot be delayed much longer.
The amendment reserving to con-
gress the right to control the time and
manner of holding such elections must
first be decided, and on this the vote
will be very close. 1t has been stout
ly claimed, however, that there is a
majority for the amendment The
democrats will vote solidly against the
amendment and against the bill if so
amended, while practically the con-
trary is true OF the republicans. The
amendment only requires a majority
for it's passage, while the resolution
itself will fail with less than two
thirds vote in its favor.
The statement made some time
since that the senate would consider
no tariff matters whatever which have
or may come from the House yet
holds good and with added certainty.
The oply possible exception is that
! the free list may be considered in
parts in the event that any item in it
is sought to be incorporated into re-
ciprocity as an amendment
After The House passed the state
/ hood resolution with amendments on
TUESDAY II adjourned TO Friday, and
will only meet every third day until
after the wool schedule bill is report
/ ed to the House The question Of
agreeing to the plan OF the ways and
means committee will be decided by
a caucus OF the democratic members
June 9Th, and until then the House
will mark time. The committee pro
position as finally compromised was
1 to levy a duty of five cents per
/ pound on raw wool cutting 1t from
/ the present rate of eleven, and 20 low
/ err the rate on all goods manufactured
/ from wool about fifty per cent This
will wipe out about twenty millions
of revenue, but from the fact that the
appropriations for the coming OF pres
I ent fiscal year are already made on
the basis OF present revenues the tre-
mendOus deficit which is certain 10
come il the democratic program is adj
/ hered TO will not present itself for
some months to come.
( Although the statehood resolution
went through as a democratic party
/ measure and permits the recall pro
vision TO remain in the ARIZONA consti-
| tuition if the people OF the territory in
I sist on 1t in another vote on the sub
( ject provided by congress yet the dis
cussion in the House developed the
/ fact that the principle is strongly OPP
( posed by q considerable democratic
element OF course the republicans
were solidly arrayed against il, but
/ numerous democratic speeches were
made in opposition. Probably the
most effective argument ever yet
heard against it was made by Repres-
entative Martin w. Littleton OF New
York in carefully prepared argument
/ in which his strength as a statesman
/ and power as an orator was abundant
/ " demonstrated. 1t was his introduc-
| ton to congress and at once placed
him in the front rank OF democratic
! leadership,
The most careful possible poll OF
the senate individually on reciprocity
up to Wednesday morning gave two
majority for the bill in case a vote
could be had on it as it came into the
senate. Since then it has been def
nitely announced that Senator Lodge
will oppose the bill in its original
form. insisting on the Root wood pulT
amendment In this case and in the
event that there are no changes in It's
favor the original bill is dead and be
yond hope. For one cause and an
other it has been steady losing
strength, and today it only seems to
be a question what it N.I look like
when the senate gets through with 1t
It has been semi-oficially announc
ed and is now expected that the bill
will be reported TO the senate next
Monday. There are strong rumors
that the committee may report it IN
an amended form and without recon-
mendation but of course nothing car