The Washington herald., 1911-06-21

Hopes for an early or midsummer Ad-
journment have gone glimmering these
last few days in the Senate. Visions of
European tours or months at refresh
ing watering resorts or mountain camps
have faded rapidly. Between the ulti-
mstum handed out by Senator Bailey
Monday and the well-defined plans of
the Lorimer investigating committee. the
Senate Is about to settle down for an
entire summer and fall IN the Nations
Capital. If the weary legislators pull
out a month before the regular session
convenes, they will consider themselves
fortunate.
When wool was mixed in the debate
with reciprocity in the Senate Monday,
Senator Bailey, who is supposed to repre-
sent the attitude OF Chairman Under
wood and the Democratic House majority
in the matter. served notice that the
lower chamber would not sanction ad-
1ournment until the Senate had debated
and registered a vote, not only on reci-
procity. but on the wool tariff and farm
ers' free list bills as we'll.
Would Fix Dates.
Mr.. Bailey informed Senator Penrose.
chairman OF the Finance COMMITTEES, thar
he would be willing to fix date for the
vote In the Senate on the reciprocity bill
II Mr.. Penrose would fix a date for the
votes on the free list and wool bills after
reasonable hearings before the Finance
Committee. In the colloquy which fol-
lowed. Senator Penrose admitted that the
free list bill probably would not be re-
ported out OF his committee, II II was
reported at all, before August Is. II was
inferred from what he said that Mr..
Penrose did not expect to lay the wool
matter before the Senate until a much
later date.
AS the debate on both measures will
be extensive, and as, in either or both,
the Senate may be called upon to dis
charge the committee from considera-
ton, and, further, as Chairman Under
wood has expressed a willingness to
run the extra session into the regular
session rather than forego a vote on
either measure in the Senate, the out
look is not bright for an early get
away.
Lorimer Report Early.
But If the House revenue programme
does not keep the Senate in session
throughout the vacation, the Lorimer
committee may be the means of keep
ing the pot boiling until late in the
fall. It was announced yesterday that
the programme for the investigators
included a report to the Senate before
adjournment, thus leaving the question
open to a long debate and an ultimate
settlement this session. The committee,
which began its hearings yesterday,
will. II is understood, make an early
trip to Chicago and Springfield TO gath
er up certain evidence and data from
the home nest. The trip to Chicago
may start as early as July !, It is
understood, and probably Will consume
a month or six weeks.
Following the return to Washington,
the report will be whipped into shape
in time for presentation TO the Senate
whenever pending legislation shall
be disposed of.
Can Unseat LOrimer.
So far as the Lorimer case is con-
cerned. some ray of hope is CLEANED
from the generally accepted fact that,
barring the opening up OF an entirely
new vein OF testimony favorable to the
Illinois solon, the enemies of the de-
fendant have enough votes to unseat
him. This has been admitted by some
OF his stanchest supporters, and by one
of the acknowledged leaders of the Sen
ate who voted in his favor last session.
A number of Senators whose favorable
votes created unpleasant comment in
their States are, 1t is generally under
stood, prepared to withdraw their sup
port If given the slightest peg on which
to hang such a reversal by the commit
tee. These facts are taken as an indi-
cation that the debate will not be as
prolonged as previously, when the COM
mittee's report'is presented.
However, unless either the Senate or
House retreats from its present atti-
tude-as announced by the leaders in
the two bodIes-Indian summer proba-
bly, will find them at their desks or fly
ing to and from the Capitol to keep
pace with three-day adjournments.