Evening star., 1911-08-21
How Each Party Feels As Ses-
sion Draws to Close.
PRESIDENT IS GRATIFIED
Mr.. Taft Pleased With Ratification
Of Canadian Reciprocity.
HARMONY AMONG DEMOCRATS
Regulars Satisfied That They Did
the Best They Could and Progress
ives Glad to Show Independence.

Appraisement OF the political effect of
the special session OF Congress nov clos
ing depends very much upon whether one
Is a democrat, regular republican or a
progressive. Each party, and both fac
tions, together with the President of the
United States, finds some cause for graft
fication in the work accomplished.
That's nice: it's seldom In life that
everybody is pleased, and less frequently
in politics.
President Taft is pleased because Con-
gress ratified the reciprocity pact with
out change and because the allied enemy
did not succeed in enacting hasty tariff
legislation.
The democrats are pleased because they
demonstrated to the country their condi-
ton of harmony and their disposition to
knock the spots out of the high pro-
tective tariff at the first opportunity. To
some of them it appears just as well,
perhaps. that this showing was made in
form and not in effect That is to say,
they can claim the credit for attempted
tariff reduction without mourning possi-
BILE responsibility for depressed business,
closed factories and idle workingmen.
The progressives are gratified because
they had opportunity to prove their inde
pendence, to take another shy at the
odious Payne-Aldrich bill, and to lay the
groundwork for further appeals to their
constituencies along the same lines.
The regulars, we'll they are pleased be-
do is to draw a sigh Of hearty relief that
the Payne-Aldrich law still stands and
that tariff revision may ultimately be un-
dertaken after due investigation"
Democrats Get Together.
Perhaps the most salient feature Of the
special session. from a political view
point, was the practical demonstration of
the ability of the democratic party to
get together upon a definite tariff pro-
gram and carry it to harmonious con-
clusion SO far as the two houses of Con-
gress were concerned. Acute differences
of opinion existed between the demo-
cratic factions. but were eliminated In
caucus. The public heard only the echoes
of the arguments between the advocates
OF free raw wool and those who insisted
upon duty. while the judgment Of the
caucus was ratified by the unanimous
An important feature of the special ses-
sion was the Inauguration and success
ful operation of a new method of organ
king the House of Representatives. The
time-honored method of having the
Speaker appoint the committees and vest
ing In the presiding officer of the House
other powers whichsfn latter years made
him the most powerful ma in Congress
was abandoned.
The democrats in caucus elected a COM
mittee on committees, and this body in
turn designated the personnel of the
other committees, SO far as the demo-
Gratis were concerned. That designation
was ratified by the election of the House
in open session. the republican member
ship being represented by the minority
leader.
The committee on rules was expanded
in membership, thus further distributing
very important source of power In
House procedure. Champ Clark was
his own side. and Mann of Illinois was
chosen by the republicans to be minority
leader
New rules were adopted. giving greater
personal freedom to individuals. Despite
dismal forbodings to the contrary, the
innovations in their preliminary try-out
appear to have worked to the satisfac-
ton of everybody.
Tariff Revision Taken Up.
The session was called for the spe-
cific purpose of ratifying the reciprocity :
pact with Canada. which had failed OF
action in the Senate at the session clos
ing March 4 last. Due notice was given
however. by the democrats that they
would not consent TO confine the session
to this work, but would take up tariff
revision.
Oscar W. Underwood. chairman of the
ways and means committee. while reel
procity was going through the mills. sci
to work with a staff Of experts. and with
the assistance OF his colleagues on the
committee presents bill proposing
revision of the wool schedule Tais was
deemed by the democrats the most op.
presSive upon the consumer of all the
schedules of the tariff law. The bill was
passed by the House. and In the Senate
was substituted by measure prepared
by Senator La Toilette, the head OF the
republican progressives.
In an open session Of the conference
committee. an occurrence unprecedented
in the history of tariff legislation, Mr.
Underwood and Mr.. La Toilette agreed
upon a set of rates. a compromise be-
tween those proposed by the House and
Senate. This action was ratified by the
| two bodies. and the perfected bill was
vetoed by President Taft.
! Meanwhile, the House was at work or
| the farmers free list BILL. placing upor
| the free list variety of articles enter ne
| into common use. 1t was amended ir
| very slight degree by the Senate, ac
cepted By the House, and was also Vetoed
! by the President
! In both cases the House failed to over
4
| two measures did not become laws. Th.
House then passed the b.ll revising thu
cotton schedule. The Senate amended
il by adding reductions on steel. sugar
chemicals and other articles and the
House has accepted it, passing that meas
ure up to the President for action
Indications of Broad Revision.
| When Congress assemblies three month.
hence. in regular session, tariff revision
will be taken up in earnest. with every
| ind cation of broad revision of all The
schedules of the tariff law
| A prominent feature of the special s,s
sion was the Inauguration of a series o
Investigations in the executive depart
ments and special inquiries into tn,
4 United States steel corporation and tn,
| American Sugar Refining Company IN,
llong-dormant committees having iuris
diction of the expenditures in the various
departments were revivified and proceed
ed upon a fine-tooth-comb investigation O
| departmental affairs. At the close OF tn
session only one perfected report had beer
made. the committee on expenditures ii
the State Department recommending tina
| President Taft take action upon an alleg
ed Juggling Of funds in the payment OF ,
| voucher Other committees will pursu
their investigations during the recess, an,
| at the next session.
| The special committees investigating ,L
steel trust and the sugar trust held ex
tended hearings, but still have great dea
of testimony TO take. before they can re