Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-01
EXTRA SESSION NECESSITY rurs
TAFT IN FRONT OF BATTLE
LINE.
MANY vExINo PROBLEMS
VET TO BE DISPOSED OF
in Special Session Of COMPATIBILITY
Extend Thru to November = Repub-
lioans May Gain Thru Revision Of
Tariff.

run along all thru the summer. and in
to the fall months. This Is not unus-
ual. The Mckinley tariff bill was made
into law only few weeks before cleo
ton day, and while there will be no
election this year, the time 1t will take
the two houses Of congress to dispose
of the several great questions that will
confront it probably will mean session
Of at least six months; perhaps longer.
The president in this critical sttua-
ton Ia to demonstrate whether the gen.
ial smile is as good an instrument as
the ''big stick" Congress has shown
almost conclusively it's determination
to try Mr. Taft's determination. If he
wants reciprocity with Canada, import
ant legislation affecting the tariff
board. and numerous other things. he
must call the extra session which he
has almost directly threatened. With
congress on his hands, he must show,
\ il the event is to give him maximum
OF credit that he can get from congress
what he wants: or fix the responsibility
with clearness upon that body for fail
ure to act.
In the reciprocity question the presi-
dent hits out along line peculiarly his
own. It is distinctively Taft idea
with the help of this cabinet. 1t is
hoped to be the legislation which will
curb the discomfort created by the
Payne tariff law. 1t is hoped. at the
same time. to be the turning point in
Mr.. Tafts presidential career. AS in
dicating something Of the Importance
the president attaches to the Canadian
agreement. it may be noted In passing
that his friends, for the first. time. have
established a press bureau. which turns
out with regularity arguments in favor
Of the agreement and at the same time
in support Of tho Taft position. The
president himself is buckling down to
the most important sstruggle OF his
presidential career apparently willing
to spend the entire hot summer in
Washington, II that is necessary to
convince the country that he means
business.
Expected TO Get Legislation.
He believed earlier in the session that
he would be able to get the senate to
vote on his pet measures. His remark
able success at the long session of last
year probably Afva2 him legitimate
hope. But this Is the first short ses-
sion he has had on his hands. He has
already found 1t Necessary practically
to admit the defeat OF the bill giving
permanency to the tariff board, and to
admit the effectiveness OF the opposi
ton Of certain senate groups which are
not friendly to his plans. That body
IL now involved in one of the biggest
log Jams known I'm sits recent history.
A fllibuster is not necessary to defeat
various things to which objection has
been made. 1t Il only necessary to de-
vote to each subject what will look like
reasonable time for debate. And 1t
really looks as II certain progressive
senators. unfriendly to reciprocity are
| to take time for debate. thus making
the extra session inevitable. The out
look is not good for the progressive
campaign to GUST Senator Lorimer. In
both these cases the progressives seem
| to believe that their chances would be
better in special session. And as for
reciprocity, in a special session there
| would be ample time for debate. for
amendment. and at the same time for
opportunity for the democrats to en-
| barrass a republican executive.
| 1t. therefore, should not be surprising
! If. during this last week of the session.
| the senate should awaken to the fact
that several appropriation bills have
not been acted upon Having passed
these. it may easily happen that there
! is not time enough remaining for Lori
mer. the tariff board and reciprocity.
Then it will be left for Mr.. Taft to
make good his extra session talk. 1t Is
scarcely open to doubt that he will keep
his word.
Situation 10 Psrplexing.
This comparative certainty OF an ex-
ira session opens up a perplexng SIT
uation both for politics and business.
Tariff agitation, however necessary, has
never yet opened the door for business
expansion. The probability is that con-
gress. at an extra session. as already
noted, will extend thru the summer and
into the fall. Some Of the observers
doubt If the democrats will be thru be-
fore November. Business is already
i waiting foT the supreme court ard for
the final determination Of the inter-
state commerce commissions recent
denial Of freight rate increases. 1t
will have to wait for tariff revision as
Stunning favorable action in both houses
on one or more Of the separate sched-
ules.
Politically, the gain Of the republic
cans will come thru involving the DEM
ocrats in revision before they have had
time for preparation But there the
advantage will end. In undertaking to