Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-04
Republicans Fear Congress
May Override Wool Veto. |
ABSENTEES CALLED BACK
Full Voting Strength Wanted to
Prevent Coup by Allies.
HOPE IN SENATE STRENGTH
Administration Does Not Believe
Combine There Can Muster
Sufficient Votes.

Alarmed over the democratic-insur-
gent plan in both House and Senate to
attempt to pass the wool bin over the
practically certain veto of President
Taft republican leaders OF the House
have caused kilograms to be sent
to every absentee OF that; body to
report back to Washington at the earli-
est possible moment. John Dwight.
republican whip Of the House, after an
extended conference today with Presi-
dent Taft, admitted that such tele-
grams had been sent to absentees. and
ventured the prediction that the House
combination will fall short OF it's two
thirds vote by one or two votes. Mr..
Dwight looked mighty solemn over the
situation and did not make his pre-
diction in the glorious colors OF abso-
lutte certainty.
Accoding to the mathematics submittedk
to President Taft by the republican whip.
there are $50 members of the House az
this time. The full membership is 3al.
but there are two dead republicans whosai
seats will not be filled in time to taxa.
part In the veto fray. OF the total OF
$50. the republican strength is 159 now,
but of these republicans a goodly numbeH
are In the insurgent ranks.
Insurgents Have Changed.
Mr.. Dwight has been busy among these
insurgents. and claims that some of those
who voted for the wool bill originally will
not stick by their colleagues when it gets
to the point Of overriding the veto of the
chief executive. He Is confident that not
over Twenty-Five insurgents can be
counted upon against the President and
he believes that before a vote il taken
the number will be less than that De-
Quoting these twenty-nine from the total
OF 1885, II all are present. as is expected
they will be, leaves 100 counted upon as
sure Of UNFOLDING the President. This 1870
would be over one-third of total vote OF
$780, assuming that all democrats and in
surgents will be present.
The democrats and insurgents say that
they have already pledged sufficient votes
to override the veto of the President and
that the wool bill will become law unless
the Senate can count more than one-third
to uphold the President. There Is no fear
at the White House that the opponents
OF the President can muster two-thirds
in the Senate against his veto.
Control Over a Third.
In that body the republicans control
considerably moro than one-third, all
though they are showing prudence by re-
calling all absentees and guarding against
further absences until Congress adjourns.
President Taft is in no wise concerned
over the situation. and has not even sug-
gested that House republicans be called
stay here The President realizes that
the democrats are playing a shrewd gamo
in bringing forward the veto propositions
If they can induce tho insurgents Oh
both bodies OF Congress to back them in
this onslaught on the President, It means
that the insurgents make wider the spills
between themselves and the regular re-
publicans. and will be forced to attacA
the President and defend themselves fronf
this time on. II the insurgents cannoQ.
and do not sec tho position in which theH
place themselves by attacking the Presi~
dent upon his veto, the President regards
himself as unable to enlighten them. HIS,
will not feel bitter toward them. 1t isr
stated, but does deeply regret the situa.'
ton.
The President, il IL known today. would
not hesitate to write his veto OF the wook.
bill or other tariff bills not scientifically
based II he knew positively that CongresA
would re-enact these bills by a two-thrdS
majority.
Two-Thirds Of Full Vote.
The overriding Of a presidential vetos
which must be sent to the body of Con-
gress where the bill originated, and in
this case will go to the House OF Rep
resentatives. must be accomplished by
two-thtrds Of the total voting strength
of both houses, not two-thirds of the
total membership Of each body, as Is
supposed by some.
With the Senate having more than a
secure one-third vote the wool bill cam
not become law, no matter what at
tempts are made As to the House. there
Is serious doubt whether the Presidents
veto can be maintained there, II was
known today. The insurgents have cut
the bridges behind them on the tariff
propositions Of this Congress, and are
compelled, according to their views. to
stand by their votes already recorded.