Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-23
CONGRESS FIGURES
ON DOING LITTLE
Both Parties Agree That Coming
Session Will Make at Least
One Nominee.

Washington, Nov. Y.-With more posi-
bilities before It than any session in re-
cent years Congress Is coming together
on December with the secret expecta-
ton that 1t will do very little. Some Of
the leaders in both Senate and House ex-
pect no legislation affecting the tariff
to become law. This Is dependent very
largely upon the force of the recommen-
dations OF the tariff board
On one thing republicans and democrats
are very generally agreed: That Is that
the present session Is pretty likely to
make the presidential nominee of one
party. perhaps of both. It's as full of
politics as Is the humble bee Of buzz. Nor
should 1t be overlooked that it also has
sting.
Now and then a democrat returns to
Washington feeling that his party might
put President Taft in bad predicament
by just jogging along an indolent way
and in the end making him stand on
his record OF having vetoed last session 5
tariff bills If this was done they would
go home again to say: There you are
We tried our best but Taft killed the re-
vision we gave you. lie vetoed the wool
bill likewise the cotton bill. When VIC
get new President we will show YOU.
But we must have all the government
to accomplish anything"
Cooler and deeper minds say this would
not do Between 1t and success is the
approaching report Of the tariff board on
wooden and cotton. It would be somewhat
remarkable, however. IL the reductions
which 1t is anticipated will be recon-
mended by this republican creation should
he pretty close to those which Represen-
tative Underwood included in the two
tariff reduction bills passed by the House
last winter. Would such a result make
Oscar w Underwood of Alabama a
strong candidate for the presidency? II
IT did not there would not be much faith
pinned to dark horses" any more
HOLDS CENTER OF STAGE.
From being fought in both parties.
badgered in one and reviled in the
other the tariff board has come fo7-
ward until ii has the center of the po-
litical stage. Night and day it is
working to have a report on schedule
X ready for the Presidents message.
A night force has been put at work
! in the bureau of the census in con-
junction with that In the offices OF the
tariff board. on the recommendations
which the board will make hangs
enough political advantage to turn the
election of president in campaign
| which promises to te as close as does
the next.
| In Washington there is very gem
eral feeling that peope are thinI ing
better Of the tariff board. Last win
ter before II gained its present prom
inence It was whispered that the
democrats would probably refuse II
pay its bills after this year. Now it's
u question of whe Their the Democratic
party can afford to kick the tariff
board out. There Is a tendency IN
political years to avoid kicking any
thing too hard. Neither party can be
absolutely certain when the political
hat has a brick in it.
1t Is not likely that the report on
cotton will go to Congress until aft4r
the holidays, Congress is a weaH,
frail thing after all. 1t SAYS it will and
1t will not do things but il is not at all
robust when the question Of holidays
comes around so it is pretty likely
that after about two weeks of meet
ing and adiourning, coming together
AT NOM anu ltdNihS INC NdpiNO1
about three o'clock. maybe four. they
will adjourn over until after January
|. It's a congressional habit and any
how the time to hurry and work nights
is just the last week in the session
1t gives the country an idea that Con
gress is hard working body ant
there is good deal of sentiment at
tached to whirl-wind finish any
where.
NOTHING DOING THIS YEAR.
SO II the real business of the sesso
gets under way by the first OF the yeal
Congress wifi have done we'll. Republi
} cans are likely to follow a course O
which they were suspected last year an
try to do as little as possible. That
the game of the minority and the repub
lcans are almost close to a minorit
in the Senate as they are certain tina
! they are one in the House. Then Their
) are the conventions. They are schedule
for the last week in June and the frs
week of July. OF course Congress mus
follow precedent and adjourn before the
, are held. So why do very much anyho'
If it can be helped? Which side will suffe
most by the lack of accomplishment O
the part OF Congress is a political gamble
It's the things that are done which wi
count for and against in the campaign.
| Already Senator Penrose of Pennsy
Vania, chairman of the committee o
finance Of the Senate, has publicly dis
inherited a part OF the old AldriCh lead
ership. as to whether there win /
tariff legislation. Senator Smoot say
there will he tariff legislation and som'
$ thing done for Alaska, but puts monetar
reforms and the legislation affectin
trusts behind the door. Senator Penro'
graphically announces that he does not e,
poet to have tariff legislation. Other sci
ators say that whether Senator Penros
expects tariff legislation or not he shou
i not have said he did not.
SHERMAN.
n WORLD CROP PRODUCTION