The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-01-26
PEAK OF A BUSY WINTER.
(Continued from page one.)

publicans sat that end OF the Capitol
and thus has been able to assist mate |
rally in, getting measures disposed of.
remarked the other day. that it was
next to impossible this Winter to find
o1t what Senators wanted.
sSuch a status is one of the inevita-
he results at short session. following
an election where the people have voted
fer change at Washington. II the
Republicans had been retained in full
power at the Capitol there would have
bsen mach more energy in doing
things Democrats would have had
less obstructive force.
Canadian Reciprocity.
Some attempt has been made to pave
the way for the Canadian reciprocity
treaty, now expected at the Capitol
within few DAYS. No one is ready
to say il viii fail of ratification. and
yet there is much shaking OF heaGs
whenever the subject is mentioned.
Senator's say it will be time enough
to talk about ratification when they get
the copy of the document, and add
that it is very late in the session to,
get by" with any proposition OF that
character They dwell much upon cx-
pected opposition from divers GUAR
tiers. and the likelihood that the whole
matter must go over till the next ses-
sion.
The tariff commission legislation. in
which the business men of the coun-
try have shown very great interest,
the enactment OF which they have
hoped for as likely to steady the queS-
ton of revision materially and to help
protect the business world from unduel
depression, is in a somewhat similar
situation. The President is driving
hard for action. He is urging House
leaders and Senate leaders. but does
not obtain any very satisfactory re-
sponses.
The Tariff Commission.
1t has been widely represented dur
ing the last few days that the Ways
and Means Republicans have fatty de-
fed the Presidents wishes about a
tariff commission. This is denied by
prominent members of the committee,
who still insist that they propose to
bring out some kind of a bill that will
satisfy him. None the less, the feeling
within tie committee IL none too
friendly. Ordinarily the Presidents
efforts TO enlist Insurgents of the House
| and Senate in tariff commission activi-
ties might avail something, but their
interest is dulled by knowledge that
Senators are waiting to do the bill to
death whenever it comes their way,
and also by knowledge that the forth
coming Dmocratic revision schedule by
schedule may present an opportunity
| for their cooperation.
The machinery for this Democratic
| revision will be in active cooperation
very soon. The Democratic leaders
think they have scored heavily with
the country by designating their Ways
and Means members, and by setting
them to work upon the proposed legis-
| lation. There is an exceptional vol
ume Of information about the tarin
now in print-the material wmcn the
| House Ways and Means Committee de-
! veloped at hearings a little more than
year ago. The witnesses were close
| " cross examined by Democratic MEM
bers and much Of this material VIII
| be resurrected as the new Democratic
committee undertakes its Investigation
The President wants his party to
have some credit for modifying the
AIdrich-Payne law. II he could per-
! suade Congress to do what he is ask
ing. he feels that he would be relieved
of much of the political embarrass-
ment that may come to him next year
| II schedule-by-schedu revision bills
tho white House for his signature.
The Senate Insurgents say they will
| surely Join with the Democrats In CIV
ing such bills a majority. and they are
I not generally anxious to help the
President out in advance. Many OF
them reason, that he will surely have
OPPOSITION for denomination, and that
j Cummins and LaFollette will probably
i be in the race. why should they help
allay this opposition. their argument
runs, by intrenching the President on
4 the tariff issue?
But the time for substantial progress
in these and numerous other Admins
tration measures is rapidly passing. IL
It is not already gone. The Senate
leaders know it, and they are begin
ming to pull out the throttle. They
I have discovered that appropriation
bills are now ready for confederation and
busy days are ahead. The time has
been pretty well measured out for the
things that must be done. Tho House
has gotten down to the last half OF
its appropriations program. The big
measures, that provoke much conten-
ton, like the Naval Bill and the Sun
!, dry Civil Bill will be taken up there
i very soon. The Senate has about con.
cluded its dila1ory tactics and will now
tackle it's mountain Of work with q
Will
The Presidents Secretary.
President Taft's search for new
Secretary in place OF Charles D. Nor
ton, about to retire, interests Washing
> ton in a very comprehensive way. The
politicians are on the aui vive about
:. 1T. The change has significance In
connection with the Presidential cam
paign. It also has significance with
; respect to the transaction OF great
; volume of business that Senators and
Representatives have at the White
House.. ~.
The announcement that Secretary
3 Norton is to retire was coupled with
3 another that his successor was chosen
I long ago. That is taken with some
, allowance, for it is known that the
President wants to be relieved of any
: representations that might be made tc
D him regarding available mon for thai
office. Anyhow, the curiosity is very
d keen to know who will preside in the
= outer rooms Of the White House offices
for the next two years.
: Secretary Norton's tenure has beer
4 brief, as compared with his predeces-
sors of the last 20 years. H7 is very
well meaning young man, who came
| to the place with the best intentions
and Iaboring under conditions thai
were and would have been embarrass
ling to any man. He was a tyro a
politics. although the duties Of the of
0 flee involve many intricate politica
!. matters which have a bearing upor
the popularity and success of the
q President whom he serves.
I 1t is very essential for q Secretar,
|. to have the confidence and esteem o.
: Senators and Representatives, who arr
: ever Numbering at the office doors
q He must, in q measure, speak theil
language. Mr. Norton was at disad
: vantf,ze in that regard. The Presiden
v was willing that his new Secretary
: should take off his shoulders many Off
d cial5 burdens. Secretary Norton sprung
: vigorously to- that task and did much
Co., DraS