The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-29
CLARK PLAYS BIG
POLITICAL C N
Declines to Run Con
trary to Wishes Of
the People.
II - ]
THEY DEMAND
TARIFF BOARD
So He Will Help Pass Bill in
House, and Then Leave It to
Tender Mcrcies Of Bailey,
III Senate, Who Is Rated
a Harmon Man--De-
sires It's Defeat.
Especial to The Timcs-Dispstch.

Washington. January 2s.-Thc House
will pass on Monday tho tariff board
legislation Icing urged by President
Taft. Responsibility for its defeat will
be passed along to the Senate.
a rule was adopted to-day by the
House Committee on Rules under
which tho bin Is 10 lie taken up as n
special order on Monday. considered
and put TO 2 vote. There VIII be OPP
position to the passage OF The bill from
both Republican anu Democratic
sources, hut a majority for the
measure iii the House IS assured by
tho support OF Serene f.. Payne ana
Champ Clark, Republican and Demo
cratic leaders, respectively.
Representative Fitzgerald, of New
York. Il member OF the Committee on
Rules. today announced his opposi-
ton TO the bin and his Intention to
night It's passage. 1t is Understood
Representative y. Mitchell Palmer, oil
Pennsylvania, also IL Democrat, Viii
attach the bill.
The measure. as It g 70 ee brought
into the House. is Il compromise propo-
sition. built ~ Of The features o. tic
Iongworth and Dalzcli plans. The
board Is 10 remain an advisory board
TO the President, and is not TO report
TO Congress the result OF Its .nves,iga-
lions OF tariff matters unlcsa asked 10
do SO By tho senate or tho -4ouse. In
this way Congress hopes 10 kccp con-
tro, Of tariff legislation and tariff mat
tiers.
Clark Playing Politics.
a noteworthy feature in connection
with this measure is the manner IN
which champ Clark, q Speaker Of
Tho House or Representatives, has
swung his Influence in favor OF The
tariff board at the last minute. He
has been playing presidential poll.
tics again OIL o large scale. Clark is
opposed to tariff boards or commits
sions on principle. lie docs not be-
llcvc SUCH q body can get any moro
accurate Information on the tariff than
any individua! congressman anxious 10
ascertain the facts.
Indeed. Clark believes n tariff com
mission, besides being Unconstitutional.
IS less likely 10 get accurate infor-
lnation Than an individual Congress
man seeking the light, Tor the reason
that the fact OF The board or commls-
sion being publicly known TO be after
information. by that means scares
away the men from whom
could be secured.
But Clark nnows. also, that the great
body OF the pcopic want a tariff board,
and want tho tariff, as far as possi-.c,
taken out Of politics. Clark knows,
also. that over In the Senate, senator
Bailey. OF Texas. is opposed to a tariff
board. and has served notice OF his
intention 10 do all he can TO defeat the
tariff board Legislation at this session.
Bailey is credited with being n Iiar-
mon man.
The line Of thought may be easily
followed. Clark is content TO allow the
tariff board bill TO 20 through tho
House without protest from him. be-
cause IT would pass anyhow. But lie
thereby cXades running counter to the
wishes of the people and sees the bill
20 to tho senate and to the clutches
OF Bailey, who. with his presidential
favorite. Harmon, suffers all the dis
credit for obstructing the popular VIII.