The Washington times., 1911-03-11
PROGRESSNES PLAN
WAR IN THE SENATE
Aggressive Stand on Tariff
Will Be Made at Extra
Session.
BILLS TO ORIGINATE
WITH DEMOCRATS
Organizations of Financial, Judlcl'
ary, and Other Committees to
Have Much Effect.

Senate progressive Republicans are
planning on taking an aggressive staho
in the extra session on the question OF
tariff
The mere fact that the tariff bills will
originate in a Democratic House Will
not prevent the insurgent Senators
from taking a most active part in their
consideration when they reach the
Senate.
In the special session of Congress be
ginning March, 1909, it was the insurg-
ents in the Senate who stirred up Drac-
tically all the fight over the tariff in
that body. Senators Beveridge, Cum
minis, Dolliver. La Toilette, Clapp, Brls-
tow, and Nelson prepared themselves
by much study and hard work for as
saults on certain features of different
schedules, and by sheer force of mas
terry of their subjects, compelled mOdi-
hcauonS of number of schedules and
stirred up no end of sentiment in the
country in opposition to features of the
tariff measure they thought were wrong
Similar Next Session.
In this extra session similar situa-
ton is likely to be presented. In the
last special session few of the Demo-
cratic Senators took the pains to go
into the different tariff schedules deep
~. Unless they do II this time, they
will not be prepared 10 make any sucn
showing as the insurgents will be. The
numbers of the insurgents uOw are in
creased. Thus, there is Senator POin-
dexter of Washington and Senator
GrOnna of North Dakota. While GrOnna
Is opposed to the reciprocity agreement
he is a tariff TeVlSiOniSt. Senator " urkS
of CalifUI mia will not be identified with
the high tariff Republicans. The in
surgents will be in position 10 be more
effective than they were in the last
80,
Democratic Senators operate as any
thing like unite and the insurgents
and Democrats can reach common
ground on some of the important schcd-
uleS.
indications now are that two insur-
gents will be given places on the iii
nance Committee. Senators Cummins
and La Toilette are talked of for this
committee.
Another Proposed Plan.
Another plan talked of is for La Fol-
lette and Bristow to so on Finance and
for Senator Cummins to go on Judici-
ary. In any event Cummins will not
be required to give up the Interstate
Commerce Committee, a committee for
which he is especially qualified.
If two of the insurgents get on the
Finance Committee they will be in posi-
ton TO WELD much influence. In the
ms pld1t IIit GOlllHlllltt, WHICH IN the
last session stood nine Republicans to
nEe Democrats, will be eight and six
II two insurgents are put on the insur-
gents plus the Democrats will have
control The difficulty with this is that
as matter Of fact the Democrats on
The Finance Committee are by no means
unit Senator Bailey leads one ele-
ment which does not believe in free
raw materials. This Splits up the Dem
ocratic side of the committee and leaves
q situation that is about as good as Il
could be for the high tariff Republi-
cans.
Judiciary Appointments.
If the insurgent strength is increased
in the Judiciary Committee that body
will probably take to giving more at
tention to judicial appointments. That
is, ii has long been insisted by the Sen
ate insurgents that it was time for the
Senate to consider seriously the bent
Of mind Of men who were appointed to
be judges, whether they were progress
body has really ever stirred up this
Issue more than to talk about it, II
has never actually come to a test on
the floor of the Senate. But 1t is like
ly to if the insurgents get increased
representation on the Judiciary Com
mittee.
Insurgents will probably abandon the
Idea of defeating PenrOSe for chairman
of the Finance Committee, but they
will insist that in return they must
have two members on Finance and that
they must be given fair treatment as
TO other big committees.