The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-22
Robbed of Power by Insurgents
and Democrats Union.
LONG SESSION AHEAD.
May Extend to the Regular Meet
ing in December.
Business of Body Is in a Chaotic
Condition.

Washington, June 22.--An already
badly tangled situation in the senate
was still further complicated today
when the senate finance committee de-
cided to throw the wooden revision and
so-called formers free list bills, re-
Gently passed by the Democratic
house into the open senate at once to
take the chances along with Canadian
reciprocity. Both measures, however,
received formal adverse committee re-
ports The committee refused to take
responsibility for reporting in detail
on these measures at any given time
and decided to cast the burden of SEN
ate legislation on the coalition Of
Democrats and Insurgent Republicans
suddenly brought about last night
when the wool bill came from the
house.
The finance committee had been in
structed to report the wool bill by July
1 TO- It was reported today that Sen
ator Clapp proposed to offer resolu-
ton of instruction as to the free list
bill but the committee forsetalled such
action.
TT has been demonstrated that Re-
pubiicans no longer are in control or
the senate and responsibility has been
taken from them.''
This statement from Senator Pen
rose of Pennsylvania. chairman of the
once aIl-powerful committee on fin
ance, today reflected the chaotic con-
ditions in the senate as result of
last nights fight over the house. wool
| bill. which brought about a coalition
of Democrats and Progressive Repub-
licans. By SO to 1S this coalition in
structed the finance committee to re-
port the wool bill to the senate by
July 10.
Smarting under this unusual ac-
ton, Chairman Penrose called a meet
ing of the finance committee today.
1T would require ten months prop
erly to consider the wool schedule
and grant hearings. Anything short
of that time would be useless. The
bill might just as well be reported to-
day as on July TO-" asserted Mr.. PEN
rose just before the committee doors
were closed.
Senators Cullom, Lodge and Clarke
of wyoming, mem bers of the commits
tee agreed with the chairman and
J openly favored an immediate adverse
report. Other members of the COM
rnittee counseled delay. They declared
that to act today would indicate petu-
lance.
The Reciprocity Bill.
Interest in the senate situation cen
tered about the fate of the reciprocity
bill. Senator Penrose, champion OF
the agreement, admitted that last
night developments had SO complicat-
ed the situation that no one at this
time could forecast the outcome. All
guesses as to possible date of adjourn
ment it is now admitted are worse
than useless. Some senators believe
; the extra session ultimately will dove
tail into the regular session next De-
: cember.
The effect on reciprocity of today's
| action is problematical. Some op-
hope that it would kill the bill.
Friends of the measure agreed that il
: meant a long delay, to say the least
Some insurgents declared reciprocity
-
} form, other predictions were that the
; senate soon would be plunged into
what might prove to be a general tar
iff revision fight.
The finance committee called in spe-
: cial session today following last nights
sensational developments first cousid-
cred the wooden bill. Senator Kern,
Democrat, moved that hearings be
conducted and that Chairman Pen
! rose telegraph to two or three repre-
: sentatives of the woolen manufactur-
ing association and to the National
I Sheep Growers association to appear
Y to conclude their testimony by July
! 10. Senator Hepburn moved to amend
the motion so as to provide for an
immediate adverse report
Republican members took the posi-
ton that it would be unjust and unsat-
isfactory to the great business interests
concerned to hear only q few men,
Hepburn Motion Adopted.
The Hepburn motion was adopted
bv a vote of to 4, the division being
: on strictly party lines, all Republican
e members voted for the adverse report
7 as follows:
= Penrose, CuIlom, Lodge. McCumbsr
: Smoot, Ga1linger, Clarke (Wyo.), Hey
= burn and LaFollette. The Democrats
s who voted in the negative were:
Bailey, Simmons, Williams and Kern
g Stone and Johnson were absent
f The so-ca1led farmers free list bill
t then was called up by Senator Bailey
! Z CONTINUED on Page Eight,