Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-06
61st CONGRESS.
Borah Will Insist on q
Vote on lorimer Case.
House viii Sanction RecipToci.
y but Senate Is In Doubt.
Col. GoethaIs Will Urge Fortified.
toe Of Panama Canal.

tI0e OF Pdndma CdnoIs
Washington, Feb. 5.-Congress work.
ed under high tension during the last
| week, and the prospects for the re-
| ma1nder of the session do not promise
| many days barren of excitement The
| congestion is such that appropriation
| DIS are in some danger, but members
| of experience recall conditions equally
bad which were met without the ne
cessity of extra sessions. The difficulty
| i'll both branches seems to be that nu-
merous matters of partisan nature
arc being pressed for consideration be-
| fore the close of the session on March
| 4. Most of the measures of this char
acter are pending in the Senate Chief
| among them are the Lorimer case and
the resolution looking to the election
of senators by direct vote of the peo-
pie. The latter as the result of persist
ert efforts by Senator Borah, was ad-
vanced last week to the position of the
| unfinished business. Senator Borah is
| determined that there shall be a vote
| on his resolution in time to obtain con-
sideration by the House and will insist
upon continuous consideration until u
vote is had. The indications are that he
has sufficient votes to carry out this
| program.
The situation is extremely interest
| ing. y large majority Of the regular
Republicans are opposed to the reso-
luton, but the Progressive Rcpubli-
cans and the Democrats control the
situation by two or three votes Efforts
wore made by Senator Borah TO have
a day fixed on which to take a vote by
unanimous consent thus far has been
refused. If the resolution passes the
Sepate it is not known what its fate
will be in the House. Ordinarily
measure which had to do only with the
manner in which members of the Sen
ate were elected would find ready ac-
quiescence i'll the House. But this res
olltion Will encounter q crowded cal
endar and perhaps an unwillingness on
the part Of members to give time to a
measure III which they have little con-
cern.
The situation has changed somewhat
in respect to the Lorimer case. 1t now
looks as if there may be a vote during
the present session. Senator Burrows.
chairman of the committee ON privileges
and elections, has promised 1t and there
are others who favor Lorimer who deny
that there is any plan to hlibuster against
such a vote. AS this matter is entirely
in the hands of the Senate and requires
no action by the House any day before
March will be sufficient for the Sen
ates decision as to whether Senator Lor-
liner is to continue as member of the
body
Legislation to put into force the Can
adam reciprocity agreement probably
will be greatly advanced during the pres
ent week. New York applications were
received by the ways and means COM
| mittee for hearings. but such hearings as
are granted probably will be disposed of
by Thursday. The Mccall bill on the
subject may be reported out of the com
| mittee on the following day and a rule
| to permit consideration of the measure
without amendment will be brought in
with little delay.
Many of those who oppose the reci-
procity agreement in the House, concede
that it will pass but the situation in the
| Senate is not so favorable. The upper
House would not be likely to permit the
passage of a measure of so much impor-
| lance until opportunity was had for full
debate. There will be no chance for such
| debate this session. Senate leaders, how
| ever, are extremely anxious that there
| should be no extra session. Some of them
rear That the calling of Congress after
March 4th would arouse sentiment
| throughout the county in favor of gen.
eral revision Of the tariff. These Re
publican leaders say that the temper of
the country at the present time is such
that tariff revision might menace the
principle of protection Whether this
fear will weigh heavily enough to cause
the Senate to act upon the reciprocity
agreement is doubtful.
| Most of the Democrats of tho House
are DeiieVed 10 be In favor of the Can
aoian agreement. but to determine this
question absolutely caucus is called for
tomorrow hisht to frame a party policy
with respect to the question. Many i'm
portant measures are pending in the
House and as a result there seems to be
little chance for action on the ship sub
sdy bill which passed the Senate a few
! days ago thanks to the action of Vice
President Sherman in twice breaking tie
| woes.
4 Col Cocktails, chairman of the Isthmian
Canal Commission, arrived here today
and will testify tomorrow before the
House committee on appropriations as to
the necessity of terrifying the Panama
canal. majority of the House is be-
| lieved to be in favor of Notifications, but
it is likely that the question will pro-
| woke much debate.