The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-04-06
WILL CRAW FISH.
The Progressive Republicans Will join
Force Whh Regulars.
DEFEAT TARIFF PLANS

Republicans VIII Oppose All Legis-
lation Looking to Revision of the
Tariff, But the Democrats May Use
Reciprocity as a Club to Push
Through Revision Bills.
DESPITE the fact that the Democrats
of the House, by official caucus ac-
ton, have declared a purpose to en-
act tariff legislation during the extra
session of Congress, which begun last
Tuesday, the prediction is freely
made in Congressional circles that no
such legislation can be put through
the Senate, and that the extra ses-
sion will adjourn earlier than has
generally been anticipated.
Sentiment among the regular Re-
publicans in the Senate is over
whelmingly against any sort of tarih
revision at the extra session. With
out the support of the progressives
the Democrats cannot possibly get
any tariff bills through the upper
branch of Congress.
It is apparent that the regular Re-
publicans of the Senate will do every
thing in their power to postpone all
matters Of general legislation until
the regular session next December. II
is reported that number Of the
progressive Republicans are likely to
fall in with tais idea.
There is every reason to believe
that the regulars will promise the In
surgents to facilitate consideration
of schedule by schedule revision o.
the tariff at the regular session OIL
Congress IL no attempt is made to put
through such legislation at the extra
session. With such an agreement be-
tween the Republicans. 1t IS believed
that the Democrats might not at
tent to prplong the extra session
until late in the fall.
in certain quarters 1t is reported
that the Democrats Of the House will
hold reciprocity up until the Senate
and President have acted favorabiy
on a number of revisions of the pres
ent Tariff law which the Democrats
intend making. The report has 1t
that the House majority fears the
President and Senate will double
cross" them if the Canadian agre=
ment is passed before any tariff re-
vision is made, by the President ad-
journing Congress, which he can do
under the Constitution If the SEN
ate should get into disagreement
with the House on the question o.
time of adjournment.
The Democratic House leaders will
90 ahead with their program re-
gardless of the probable fate Of their
measures in the Senate until such a
time as the Senate clearly demon
strates that it will give no consid-
Grafton to general legislation dur
ing the extra session. In this way
the Democrats feel they will have
done their utmost to fulfill their
pledges at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
Some of the Senate Democrats are
strongly in favor OF waiting until the
regular session convenes before re-
vising the tariff. They declare that
the Republicans already have passed
big Appropriation bills for the next
! fiscal year and that revenues must b.
raised to meet them. During the
regular session the tariff could be re-
vised and the new appropriation bills
scaled down accordingly.
The promise made by President
Taft that the tariff board will be
ready with a complete report on the
textile schedules of the tariff by De-
cember /, next, and the hope he hat
informally expressed that Congress
will decide to wait for this report be-
fore acting on these schedules, makes
the situation a little more difficult
for the Democrats in that the insur-
gent vote in the Senate has an ex-
cuse for crawfishing on their demand
for tariff reform.
It is pointed out that with re-
port on the much-discussed cotton
and woolen schedules promised by
next December, the insurgent Repub-
licans will not stultify themselves by
voting for House bills amending
these schedules without regard to the
tariff board, There Is little doubt
but that consideration Of the recipro-
city measure will occupy many weeks
of the Senate's time. 1t Is argued
that it would be late in June before
consideration could be given in the
Senate to House bill dealing with
even one schedule of the Payne-Ald-
rich law.
With determination of thirty or
more Senators that no such legisla-
ton should be enacted at the extra
session, it can ne easily seen, accord
ing to the Republican leaders, that
attempts to get such measures
through abe extra session would be
futile. This does not mean that the
President will look unkindly toward
a revision of the tariff on necessities
of life not included in the Canadian
agreement. In fact, it is to the con-
trary. The President expects the Dem