Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-07

Democrats Think Tariff viii
Be Changed and Reciprocity
Bill Then Passed


WASHINGTON. ID. c., March 4.-The
turbulent scenes incident to the death OF
the 61st congress, and its sins of COM
mission and omission, have almost been
forgotten already in the interest that re-
wolves around the assembling OF the go
congress on April 4. IN response TO the
call of President Taft. Incidentally, 1t
may be stated that the president display
ed more backbone than he was generally
credited with having Few Republicans
of prominence and no Democrats believed
that he would make good his threat TO
assemble congress in extra session II the
Canadian reciprocity agreement failed.
Scores of hats-statesmen and politicians
always wager hats-were lost as a result
of the presidents call, and not few
pieces Of new headgear will adorn the
domes OF newspaper men who profted
at the expense OF statesmen. At the
capitol yesterday 1t was impossible to
find a senator who believd there would
be an extra session, though all agreed
that reciprocity had no chance.
And tonight the Democrats are rejoic-
ing at what they regard the greatest po-
litical blunder ever made by q political
leader. They can scarcely believe that
the president has actually called con-
gress, the lower branch of which will be
controlled and dominated by the Demo-
cratic party, to assemble with a view to
enacting his legislative program.
IT do not understand the reason or
necessity for the extraordinary session
of congress. Undoubtedly the commits
sioners of the Canadian government In
their negotiations with the American
commissioners knew that the president
of the United States had no power fur
Their than to submit the agreement en-
Il
with his Recommendation for its adop-
ton. They also knew that the time of
convening and adjourning Of the late
session of congress was fixed by law.
The president submitted the agreement
to the congress with his favorable rec
ommendation, and the congress consid-
cred 1t, but failed to enact 1t into law.
don't see anything more that the
president could have constitutionally
promised or agreed to do other than he
has done. If he undertook to do more
than this he had no warrant under our
constitution for it.
WOULD REMIT s5.oo0,O00.
THE proposed agreement, If made a
law, would result in our government
renting something less than $4,000, 900
in duty yearly that it now collects. If
this entire sum was applied to the re-
duction of the cost of living and distrib-
uted among our ninety million people,
the saving to each would be infinitesi-
NAL.
"The agreement does not seem to me
| to be OF that tremendous importance
requiring an extraordinary session of
congress- 1t is a fact, further, that
the Canadian parliament has not yet
ratified the agreement, and even though
the agreement was of that paramount
Importance as to require an extraordi-
nary session Of congress it would have
been time enough to have called it af-
ter the Canadian parliament had rati-
fled the agreement
Georgia is sure to fare well in the
distribution of committee places. Adj
amson will get the Craftsmanship of the
committee on interstate and foreign COM
merce, Bartlett will land the chairman
ship Of the committee on accounts and
place on the appropriations commit
tee Hardwick will be assigned to the
coinage, weights and measures. and will
tee; Edwards will hold his place on the
rivers and harbors committee; Roden-
berry Will probably get on the judiciary
committee; Hughes may be assigned to
public buildings committee or military
affairs in addition to his place on the
public lands committee; William S. How
ard, of the fifth, will probably land
on the labor committee and possibly on
military affairs; Lee will hold his place
on the agricultural committee; Tribble
OF the eighth will get foreign affairs;
Bell will remain on postoffices.