The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-08-25

night-possibly today-and the most
strenuous session of recent years will
pass into political history. The net
results of the extra session. in com
parison with the ambitious programme
adopted at the outset, were not large.
Canadian reciprocity was brought
as near reality as the executive and
legislative departments could advance
it, statehood was assured for New
Mexico and Arizona; campaign pub
licity legislation was enacted in a
form satisfactory to its most earnest
advocates; provision was made for an
enlarged house of representatives bas-
ed on the latest census, and a few
other measures of minor Importance
were passed.
A democratic house, the first since
1895, seized on this session as a We
hicle to convey to the country the
views of democrats on tariff revision.
but executive disapproval rendered
futile all efforts to impress those views
on the statute books.
Two tariff bills, one materially re-
ducing the existing duties on wool and
woolen goods of all classes, and the
other placing on the free list articles
of machinery and tools used by farm
ers and arranged to include many other
items, were vetoed by President Taft
He based his disapproval on the
grounds that the bills had not been
scientifically" prepared, and that
tariff revision should wait until reports
on the different schedules had been
made by the tariff board A cotton re
vision bill awaits similar fate.
The house, under the leadership Of
Representative Underwood of Alabama
chairman of the ways and means com
mittee, and Speaker Clark, endeav
ed to pass the woolen and free Ill
bills over the veto, but the necess9
two thirds vote could not be my
ed. These failures to overthrow
fdent Taft's veto were strong
in determining leaders to close
session, and it is not likely that con
gress will be in session to receive
veto to the cotton measure.
Trust" Investigations Without num-
Der were instituted during the session
and some of them, notably those beal
ing on monopolies in steel and suga
were prosecuted with vigor. They stil
are in progress.
Constructive legislation to bear o.
federal regulation of corporations i
regarded as certain to come from thes
inquiries. Plans already have been il
stituted to revise the antitrust laws
Charges were revived that Senate
William Lorimer of Illinois was elec
ed through bribery and a second II
vestigation by the senate was put III
der way. A senate inquiry into th
election of Senator Isaac Stephenso
of Wisconsin was ordered.
General arbitration treaties wit
Great Britain and France were ser
to the senate by President Taft hu
they received a frigid welcome. b,
cause the upper house contended tha
one provision of the treaties usurpe
the senate's constitutional preogative
Presentation of the treaties straine
hitherto cordial relations between tn
foreign relations committee and til
state department; and, as a resul
President Taft made it plain that a
issue had been raised which he wi
carry to the country, in the hope I
procuring ratification when congres
reconVenes.
Friction in the department of agr
culture over the enforcement of III
pure food laws was aired by an II
vestigation, and a national issue wa
raised over whether the activities {
Dr' Harvey W. Wiley, the govern
ment's pure food expert had bee
made ineffective.
Proceedings in the house under "a,
Gus rule, led by Mr.. Underwood mr.,
cipitated sharp controversy betwee
Mr. Underwood and William Jennind
Bryan. Mr. Bryan was aroused n
cause of failure of the house eauc,|
to include in it's tariff programme
the outset the revision of the iron a,
steel schedule. He attacked Mr.. III
derwood on this ground, but the lattI
received an overwhelming vote of 90
huence when the subject was made j
Issue on the floor of the house
During the controversy. the wal
and means committee was at wor,, i
an IRON and steel revision plan but
remained for the senate to act On ~
schedule With the acquiescepce
mouse leaders, the senate tackled !.
IRON i ana steel eschedule o nthe cotto
bill. It will be concurred in Nv S1'te ~
mouse today, regardless of tba - doe, :,
II is certain to meet when If roaob'