The Sentinel=record., 1911-03-05
TWO ADMINISTRATION MEAS
uREs ARE sTRANGLED AMID
TuMuLTuoUs SCENES.
President Issues Proclamation Within
an Hou, Calling Extra Session
to Act on the Canadian Reci-
procity.

Washington, March 4.--The Sixty
first congress-, needless OF one Of the
most important legislative tasks set
before it, came to an end shortly aft
er noon today Within the hour fol-
lowing President Taft had issued a
proclamation calling the new congress
in extraordinary session at noon
Tuesday, April A.
At thai time he will submit for rati-
fcation to house, overwhelmingly
democratic and to "a senate, barely re-
publican, the reciprocity agreement
with Canada. The Mccall Drr1, carry
ing that agreement into effect and
passed by the house, met today at
the hands OF the old senate the death
that had been freely predicted for it..
The president well warned, if not
entirely reconciled to the fate in store
for the measure. was at the capitol tc
witness the ohsequies. The bin was
not allowed at any time to come up in
the senate for a moments considera-
tion.
The permanent tariff board hill,
forced to its passage through a re-
hictant senate at $3.50 O'Clock this
morning, was hurried over to the
house. there to be strangled by "a
democratic filibuster. The president,
in the room reserved for him in the
senate lobby, heard the news with
resignation. Congress provided funds
to continue the work OF the tempor-
airy tariff board bill for another year.
1t was at the request of the demo
Gratis Of the house aud senate that
President Taft fixed the date of the
extra session on April 4. The new
democratic ways and means commit
tee of the house, which is also to
serve as the new committee on COM
mittees' will meet Monday to take
up its latter duties. A full caucus Of
all the democratic members of the
new house will not be held until
April 8. In the meantime the plans
for the extra session will have de-
veloped.
There is little doubt now that the
democrats of the house will under
take to revise. at least two or three Of
the schedule OF the Payne-Aldrich
tariff act, and there Is every reason
also to believe these bills will be
favorably received in the new senate
--the Increased democratic and insur-
gent strength In that body giving e
majority to the principle of further
revision of the tariff downward. II
is supposed ALSO that SO long as the
new schedules do not flagrantly vio-
late the policy of protection. Presi-
dent Taft will not withhold his APP
proval of them. He has announced,
however, that II general revision
in violation of the protective policy
should be inaugurated he would not
hegitate to use the power of the
veto.
How long the extra session will last
is prob,ematical. While the new con-
gress may promptly ratify the reci-
procity agreement, some democrats
are in favor of withholding confirma-
ton until two or yhree new tariff
schedules are ready. If tariff differ
ences should arise between the new
house and senate the session unques-
tionabiy would be long one.
In this connection. however. the in
teresting fact was developed today
that the president has constitu-
tutionai right to bring the session to
an end In case the two houses OF
congress cannot agree upon time
for adjournment. Such action, 1t IL
admitted. would be revolutionary, and
there is thought to be little likelihood
that any president wculd care to in
woke the power vested in him by sec
tion 3. article OF the constitution.
The old congress ended amid scenes
OF extraordinary excitement and un-
certainty. In the house the disorder
at times during the closing hours
when the successful flibuster against
the tariff board bill was in progress
became almost = riot.
Representative Johnson, OF Ken
tucly glarinT ansrilx at Speaker Can
non shouted above the general roar
Of confusion that but for the speak
er's gray hairS Re might carry tn