The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-24
SENATE NO LONGER
FOR PROTECTION
SAYS HARRIS
Cores Call For Finance Commit
tees Report Starts Something
DOWNWARD REVISION SOON
Correspondent Thinks All Tariff Leg
lslatlon Of This Session Endanger
ed by New Move.


of the senate last evening in voting
by two to one yote-36 to 1S-- to in
struct the Finance committee of that
body to report the House wool sche-
dule not later than July 10th marks
very distinctly a political revolution
in the upper house Of congress- In
many years there is no precedent for
the action of last night. 1t demon
strates beyond question that the SEN
ate as at present constituted Is no
longer a protective tariff body. Yes
terday was a field day in the senate
along the lines of the debate on recip-
rocity, Senator Root speaking early
in the day on his amendment, and
the discussion on that subject follow
ing his speech was general and ex-
ceedingly animated. Late in the af-
ternoon and entirely without warning
or notice to anybody Gore, the blind
senator from Oklahoma, let loose
bedlam unbounded by the introduc-
ton of a resolution to instruct the Fl
nance committee to report the wool
day with or without amendment not
later than the 10th of July, in three
weeks. The resolution was briefly
but ably presented, and was followed
by most eloquent and forceful APP
peal for its adoption by Senator Mar
tin of Virginia, the Democratic lead
er He was Immediately followed by
Senator Williams of Mississippi who
has already made a name for himself
in the upper house as being in the
front rank in effective debate, and
for four long hours the battle ragged
luridly. Nearly at the outset half
dozen or more progressive republi-
cans fatty asserted their intention to
support the resolution, and from then
on the regulars on the republican
side became gradually more and more
panic stricken as it became apparent
that they were certainly in the minori
ty and that the resolution was certain
TO be adopted. In order to avoid or
postpone or avoid the inevitable re-
suit Senator Gallinger moved an ad.
journment which was defeated by a
good majority on an aye and nay
vote From then until the final vote
/ at $50 p. m. the democratic and pro
gressive coalition had things their
own way The regulars sang a few
swan songs, but the end was in sight
and it was all over but the shouting.
The results of last evening are big
with fate for the future of all tariff
legislation during the life of this con
| gress. Until March 1913 at least, the
| democratic majority in the House and
| the coalition developed yesterday in
| the senate. working in accord with
| each other as they undoubtedly will,
will hold all tariff legislation in the
| hollow of their hands. For all pur-
poses connected with the tariff this is
| essentially low tariff, tariff.for-reve.
| nue. and free trade congress Down
ward reylsion--away down to rock
| bottom-is coming right along any
time now II that it what the people
want-and their votes have said it is
then they are going to get it in
| large doses and sooner than they had
any reason to dream. The extra ses-
sion was their only opportunity to
hasten it by year, and the presi-
dent handed il to them on platter.
| Regardless of the exceeding discom-
forts of an infinitely protracted extra
session, the writer is sincerely glad of
such a result as is promised. The
| same men who in any event would
have to decide these matters next
| winter will have to decide them now
and what is to be gained by anybody
here by representation and postpone
ment? Besides, the country has vot
ed-possibly mstakenly--for just
what it is to get sooner or later, SO
why postpone the inevitable?
| With the loodgates now open for
general tariff legislation all along
the line at this session of course il
is impossible to foresee where the
legislation of this character will end
The census of opinion seems to be-
among senators on both sides of the
chamber that the action of the sen
ate in bringing out the wool schedule
for debate within three weeks vii
hasten the vote on reciprocity in or
der that 1t may be gotten out of th'
way before the wool tariff comes in
This would appear to be logical rea
soning, and we may look for hot ant
lively work on reciprocity from nov
until the date fixed for the entrance
of the famous schedule X. TIL
coalition senators are of the opinion
that the debate on this schedule vii
not be. long drawn out, and that tn
session may be brought to a CLOSEUP
| ly as early as if the wool subject ha
| not been injected. If the regular
had been successful in keeping it on
by the vote of yesterday the cOaltio
! would have continually blocked tn
| motion of the republican for the fl
ing of a date for a vote on recipr'
city unless an agreement could B
had likewise for a vote on the wot
schedule, and no Roadway could hav
been made. Under the changed col
ditions the combine will likely rus
this whole bunch Of legislation to
vote at the earliest possible day an
thus accomplish several results quic
err than the one alone could have bee
accomplished.
Just what disposition will be mac
of the free list bill, now before Il
finance committee is problematici
It is not doubted, however, but that
will be disposed of in some way, al
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