Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-04-17
DEMOCRATS PROUD
OF ACHIEVEMENTS
IN CONGRESS
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
HAS LITTLE OPPOSITION
Present Sailing win Not Be
So Smooth When Reciproc-
ity and Tariff Revision Come
Up for Action,
IBy Morning journal specla, Leased wire,

fBy Morning journal Special Leased wirsl
Washington, April 16.--So far 10
the extraordinary session of congress
II has been plain sailing for the well
organized democratic majority in the
house of representatives but in the
view of strong minority there are
breakers ahead.
Democratic leaders refer with pride
to the achievement of passing the
bill for the popular election of Unit
ed States senators and the campaign
publicity bin in two legislative days
and to bringing before the house the
Canadian reciprocity agreement with
assurances of its ratification by an
overwhelming majority by the middle
| OF this week.
To all these features of the legs>
lative program. however, there has
been little opposition. The wonder OF
1t. to the experienced observer was
the demonstration of the smoothly
| running democratic machine.
But by what is to follow--the free
list bill approved by the democratic
caucus and favorably reported by the
new committee on ways and means
the rapid pace of legislative progress
! is expected to receive q check.
Reciprocity discussion, begun Satur-
day, furnished an opportunity for the
minority leaders to Intimate their In.
tentions and to make II clear that the
bill placing on the free list manufae-
tured articles in demand by the farm,
ers. will be fought as stubornly as any
proposed democratic tariff measures
ever were opposed in congress. The
majority leaders realize the bills cam
not be rushed through, and they are
| preparing to meet the assault upon II
in prolonged debate.
Chairman Underwood OF the WAYS
and means committee, intends to sub
NIT to the house the committees re-
port on the free list bill on the COM
Guiding day of the reciprocity debate
SO that IL may be called up the fol-
lowing day.
The tariff debate, 1t Is expected,
will begin at once and 1t is the hope
OF the democrats that the bill can be
put upon its passage within two weeks.
The determination of the minority
TO assail 1t from every angle doubtless
will result in keeping the measure be-
fore the house for much longer
| time.
The minority members OF the ways
and means committee in consideilhg
the proposed free list voted solidly
against it, maintaining II was hasti-
| ly framed measure, ill-advised, and
not sufficiently backed up with infor.
! nation relating to the revenues cor
cerned. Furthermore, II was pointed
out the tariff board had not been con-
suited.
Mr.. Mann, the minority leader, will
conduct the argument against the bill
beyond question and Mr.. Payne, who
was chairman OF the old ways and
means committee will be allied with
him In directing the attack.
This will be but the beginning OF
the tariff excitement, as the democrats
are already preparing wool and cotton
schedules to be presented as soon as
possible and later on in the session
the agricultural schedule will be
tackled.
With all this In prospect, not to
mention the proposed Arizona and
New Mexico statehood bill. anti-in-
junction legislation, reapportionment
and appropriation bills the outlook Is
that the house will be kept busy until.
well into the summer.
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. II is making no
haste. The senate committees are
not yet named and when II meets to-
morrow, It Is probable another ad-
iournment 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 | guess we are
in no hurry to appoint committees.
The senate will take Its time
Prospects, however. are good for
the passage by the senate of the pop
ular election and campaign publicity
bills. There Is considerable new pro-
gressive material In the senate and
the popular election OF senator's Is sure
TO meet with a more favorable recep- !
ton than II did In the senate of last |
congress, where II received a majority |
but not the necessary two-thlrds.