New-York tribune., 1911-12-04
CONGRESS PLANS MIXED
Session Opens To-day with DEM
oCratS at Odds.
LITTLETON STORM CENTRE
Vain Effort to Settle Row with
straightforward May
Come in Fall.
rr-nm -he rr,hune Rr-eau.

washington. Dec. 8-with the prospect
Of preliminary oratorical fireworks oy
Rsr-esentative Martin Littleton. the Demo-
cratic Eouse will begin at noon to-morro"
a session that promises 20 be the nlos'
turbulent in recent legislative history
The Littleton speech VIII be typical or
Other dissensions that are appearing III
Democratic ranks Without waiting oaN'
Representative Llttleton, rising 10 CUES
ton Of personal privilege, Will attack those
who have criticised the attitude ot the New
Vol, -,er-bs- in the Steel Trust invest-
cation coD+-oversy. Representative Little
20, viii nav his caustic respects 10 Will
tan Jennings Bryan. that ancient bone OF
contention IN Democratic ranks, and 10
o+bors who have called NIr Lttleton A
,r,a,5 ~ the steel Trust because he thinks
,bA e+anlev committee should curtail It's
,,crirv now that Tho government has fled
slit AGAINST the r~f
So far as the douse rs concerned, the
session promises 90 be one Of wrangling
with the Democrats playing politics from
the start Efforts are being made by
Democratic leaders 10 bring peace between
NJ stanlev. chairman. and Representa-
tive L8ttleton. OF the Steel committee. This
row. the first 70 crop out. is still thorn
in the sides Of the Democratic pleaders for
harmony. and other controversies are i'm
pending
COMMITTEES to Tariff Tinkerins.
The Democrats are committed 20 a ses-
sion OF tariff tinkering. The WAYS and
Means Committee viii begin work at once
on a revision OF the wool, cotton and metal
q htr
Underwood House leader that the report
OF the Tariff. Board. containing scientific
information will be received, but that 1t
viii not be considered as binding in any
vsv. The Democrats say that they Will
revise the tariff as suits themselves.
So-called economy IN appropriations is
also q topliner on the House programme.
Representative Mann, the minority leader.
rredicts that the majority will be extrava-
gant where II ought 20 be saving and that
ir will be penurious where II ought 20 be
liberal The House programme also In
cludes much talk about the Sherman anti
trust law. the abolition Of the Commerce
Court. amendments 10 the pure food laws
ship subsidy. parcels post ana currency
reform
Tariff revision. however. takes precedence
political advantage every moment in the
House. Even II the session should iast
until next October. as feared by Repre-
sentative Mann. the chances are that little
general legislation will De enacted, as the
rerocrars OF the House must wrestle with
numerous tariff revision bills and eleven
zig appropriation measures
No Stand on Sherman Law.
The House majority seems 10 have no
definite ideas al this time concerning the
-roooesd Sherman law amendments. There
are some Democrats, like Representative
Ti-tIeton. who think the law ought 70 oe
repealed. Another school wants to let well
enough alone" and a Democratic caucus
--obsbIv will be called early in the session
On b~iuz about a senblance Of party har-
uorv.
Returning members to-day are predicting
q long and tiresone session. The DEBATE
rr-rnises tc be series OF campaign
speeches printed for free distribution ID
The Congressional Record and the ON
ci7l repcrters Of the Touse arc Niewing the
prosrects with misgivings.
The Democrats, bUrdened with internecine
---ife must also confront the fact that the
dozen fnvestgating committees OF the
House. appointed with a great Dlare o.
.,.,-7Dets have really accomplished little
-'re explosion Of the fake Controller Bay
charges before the Graham committee Is
t- g1usr-ati0n - the failure of the various
.-,ee+irqt.n-' committees 20 make good.
The. Investigators have spent much money
"a. may bo attested TO by the committee
.. Accounts. but no committee has yet
-..-1. 81 reao-t 20 justify the outlay nor
AM. the r~oenecte for such reports encourage
rs
~s. only defniteness Of purpose rests
o.-- President Taft He has laid down ana
....4fa.rlv adhered 10 certain policies in
... pr4,ious messages and speeches. These
-.r re Elaborated I'm HIS annual message
srs tine sDeciaI messages which be Will sehu
20 Congress. Until these appear u is proD-
ale that the legislators Will take no steps
.r -Hs way Of framing legislative pro-
-r.r~s. AT tho outset the trust question
wiz le u0uermost. The regular message VI
t.c President VIII deal with this subject.
Senate Has Material Ready.
~, senate. through tAe hearings before
-'ra Committee on Interstate Commerce
aa.. .- . way. prepared for consideration
o this problem. The committee has gain
o-ed mass Of material; It has before II
several bills. including that Of Senator New
lands providing for an interstate trade com
mission AS set the members seem 70 nave
reached no decision as 10 what may be
done although there is a general cisposl-
,or go do something TO relieve the bust
r.ss situation by legislation affecting cor
.ora-iols.
As with the trust question. the tariff
question will be presented by President
Taft in his recommendations for legisia-
ton based on the reports Of the Tarin
Board These. relating to the wool and
cotton schedules. win oe sent in as special
messages. Alaska, the arbitration treaties
ana foreign relations, needs Of the executive
departments. tie reports OF the stocks and
bonds commission and the postal commits
sion OF second class mail matter. will De
tue subjects presented for consideration in
otheT messages