The Washington herald., 1911-06-25
INSURGENTS BLOCK
RECIPROCITY VOTE
Still Hope to Talk on Tariff
Revision.

The insurgent Republicans of the Sem
ate are the obstacles in the way Of an
agreement to vote on the reciprocity bill
and the two tariff bills now before the
Senate. If the insurgents would consent
to fix a day. it is reasonably certain that
the regular Republicans and the Demo-
Gratis could agree to a day for the vote
in time to bring about the adjournment
Of Congress before September /.
The Insurgents are still hopeful Of
making q combination with the Demo-
Gratis by which they can amend the Ca
madam. bill. The Democratic Senators
will hold conference next week, and 1t
Is q foregone conclusion that they will
decide to support the Canadian recf-
procity bill without an amendment, and
to vote down all amendments that may
be offered.
Against this proposal will be arrayed
not to exceed four, and probably only
three Democrats. Senator Bailey, OF
Texas. will be commander-in-chief Of
this small insurrection. and It looks as
il his only backing would be Senator
Simmons, of North Carolina, and Senator
Thornton, of Louisiana
The Democrats In the Senate show no
disposition to coalesce with the insur-
gents. They appear to be working to get
an agreement for as little debate as pos
sible and for vote. It is not unlikely
that the Democrats would agree among
themselves that the speeches on reci-
procity and the tariff bills shall be lin
tied mainly to the Democratic members
of the Finance Committee. and that all
speeches shall be as brief as possible
The insurgent Republicans appear to be
taking the tariff revision programme more
seriously than anybody else, and are
working as If they really believe there
was possibility OF enacting some of
their ideas into law The insurgents were
comforting among themselves yesterday,
and there was scarcely one Of them who
hasn't a distinct proposal for tarin re-
vision. Senator La Toilette is incubat-
ing a comprehensive plan, which he will
offer as an amendment early next week,
and Senator Cummins has already intro
duced his many amendments. Senator
Bristow has put in batch, as has Sena-
tor Clapp, and most Of the other insur-
gents viii. follow suit. It Is expected
that practically every one of the in
surgents will talk on the tariff question,
and Senator La Toilette will probably
make one Of his three-day speeches
Speaker Clark last night made the fol-
lowing statement with reference to tariff
revision at the present special session
of Congress, which apparently refers to
President Taft's intimation in his speech
last night, that he was opposed to all
legislation bearing on the tariff at this
session, with the exception of Canadian
reciprocity:
The tariff ought to be revised from
top to bottom. The people of the land
so decided last November. That is their
latest mandate. The House decided that
ii is best to revise it schedule by sched-
ule. We have made a good start on that
plan. We will continue as we have be-
gun. The country indorses what the
House is doing. II the Republican Sem
ate beats our bills. or President Taft
vetoes them, We will appeal to the
country and 1t will sustain US. We be-
lieve we are right and we are not
afraid of contest