The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-17
Republican Minority, How ever, Predict That There
 Are Breakers Ahead.
DEMOCRATS PROUD
 OF ACHIEVEMENTS
Experienced Observer Wonders at Smooth Running of Democratic
 House Machine and What It Has Accomplished

Washington, April 16-So far in the extraordinary session of Congress it has been plain sailing for the well organized democratic majority in the House, but the view of the strong and healthy minority there are breakers ahead
 Democratic leaders refer with pride to the achievement of passing the bill Tor popular election of United States sen ators and the campaign publicity bill in two legislative days and to bringing be- fore the House the Canadian reciprocity agreement with assurances of its ratif1ca- ton by an overwhelming majority by the middle of the week. To all these features of the legislative programme, however there has been little opposition. The wonder of it to the experienced observer was the demonstration of the smoothly running democratic machine.
 But by what is to follow-the free hst bill, approved by the democratic caucus and favorably reported by the new com mittee on ways and means-the rapid pace of legislative progress Is expected to receive a sudden check.
 Reciprocity discussion. begun Saturday, furnished an opportunity for the minor ity leaders to flash a signal of their in- tentions and make ii clear that the bill placing on the free list manufactured ar tces in demand by the farmers of the country will be fought as stubbornly as any democratic tariff measure ever were opposed in the halls of Congress. The majority leaders realize the bill cannot be rushed through and they are preparing to meet the vigorous assaults upon it in prolonged debate.
 Will Report Free List
 Chairman Underwood of the ways and means committee intends to submit to the House the committees report on the free list on the closing day of the recip- rocity debate so that it may be called the following day.
 The tariff debate, 1t is expected, will begin at once and it is the hope of the democrats that the bill can be put upon it's passage within two weeks. The de- termination of the minority leaders to assail it from every angle doubtless will result In keeping the measure before the House for a much longer time.
 The minority members of the ways and means committee IS considering the proposed free list voted soidly against 1t, maintaining that it was a hastily formed measure, ill advised and not suffi- ciently backed up with information lating to the revenue concerned.
 Furthermore it was pointed out that the tariff board had not been consult ed That MT. Mann, the minority lead CT, will conduct stirring fusillade of argument against the bill Is beyond all question and MT. Payne who was chairman of the old ways and means committee. will be allied with him in directing the attack.
 Just Beginning
 This will be but the beginning of tariff excitement. the democrats al- ready are preparing revised wool and cotton schedules to be presented as soon as possible and later on in the session the agricultural schedule will be tackled and then will come again the controversy over the high cost Of living. With all this in prospect not to mention the proposed Arizona and New Mexico statehood bill, antf-in- junction legislation, re-apportionment and appropriation bills the present out look is that the House will be kept busy well into the summer.
 i. Two important pieces of legislation are ready for the Senate, which re- sumes tomorrow, but the Senate is not ready to consider any legislation and to all appearances 1t Is making no haste to be in shape for the consideration of House bills. The Senate committees are not yet named and when 1t meets tomorrow it is probable that another adjournment will be taken until Thurs day. One of the Senate leaders when asked how soon the committees would be ready, replied
 Well, we are on the defensive in regard to the tariff and l guess we are in no hurry to appoint committees The Senate will take its time"
 The prospects, however. are good for the passage by the Senate of the pop ular election of senators and campaign publicity bills. There is considerable new progressive material in the Sen ate and the popular election of senators Is sure to meet with more favorable reception than it did in the last Con- sress, when 1t received a majority. but not the necessary two thirds majority. nnU nnnOEVyET T