The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-11-15
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POLITICS
Continued FROM Page one

bring about a scientific revision of the
cotton schedule.
Democratic members Of congress
who are arriving in the city from time
70 time arranging their affairs for a
rev months stay, have no hesitacny
In declaring their purpose TO shoot
full OF holes" the reports of the tariff
board on any and all schedules. or
course, the democrats Of the house
are now responsible for legislation at
that end OF the capitol building. IL
they can convince the progressives of
the senate that they will keep faith
strictly. the democrats. with their as
sistance, may also control the senate
on matters of tariff legislation.
Therefore. it is only proper for them
to criticfse the reports of the tariff
board, which was appointed by Pres
ident Taft and majority of the men,
bers of which are republicans. How
ever, the advance announcement Of
democrats that they win tear the
boards report in pieces does not set
Well with the rank and file. 1t indi-
Gates that the democrats are deter
mined to discredit the work of the
board by fair means or foul.
Students Of politics here-and the
coming session promises to be most
prolific In its politics-assert that this
attitude of democrats in general sim
ply places them on record as not fav-
ortng q genuine revision OF the tariff
at this time. Men who take this view
OF the situation reason thus: Pres
ident Taft gave the world a display OF
the strength OF his backbone by We
toing the free list bill, the wooden ana
the cotton bills, taking the ground
that no tariff legislation should be
attempted until after the tariff board
created for that purpose under au-
thority Of the Payne Aldrich law had
mad an opportunity to make reports.
therefore. II congress sees At to ignore
the reports OF this body and pass tar
IN legislation without regard to it's
findings, President Taft, in order to be
consistent, must again exercise the
veto power-and he will do so.
For this and other reasons, men who
take an impartial view of the situa-
ton, which is soon to develop. are adj
vising their democratic friends TO go
slow In their tearing up" process AZ
least awaiting the receipt Of the re-
port OF the tariff board in order that
they may find out what It contains.
II 1t is not practical document, con-
tanning, for example facts and figures
or value In determining the measure
OF protection, IL any, that should be
placed on the wooden industry in it's
various branches, then, they argue
Will be the time to criticize and knock
1T to pieces. On the other hand. If It
is well prepared. valuable work.
furnishing information required for
really intelligent and Just revision Of
this troublesome schedule, let the dem
ocrats show their consistency and
broad mindedness and fall In line for
scientific revision, trusting their no.
litical future to their constituents
without attempting to play politics
once more with the great problem OF
the tariff.
While this is sound advice, few men
In public here believe the democrats
will avail themselves Of it. On the
contrary, the general sentiment seems
to be that the party leaders in the
house will play the game of politics
as she has never been played before"
In that forum. That being thea case.
the republicans doubtless will take a
hand and add to the interest of the
game CT course. the progressives OF
both houses will disclaim any inten-
ton Of playing politics, but thev win
be found lending hand as the pot be-
gins to boil.
On the whole, the prospect for con-
structlve legislation during the winter
andsspring are not very bright. Some
legislation must be passed aside from
the appropriation bills. For example.
a schedule of tolls must be provided
for vessels using the Panama canal
and form Of permanent government
and administration established there.
The house committee on appropria-
tons Is now EN- route to the isthmus
for the purpose of getting first hand
information regarding these matters.
The committees on interstate and for
eign commerce will also visit the canal
zone before congress convenes. The
senate committee on canals already
has been there
Postmaster General Hitchcock is
very anxious to secure at the coming
session parcel post legislation. He
will ask congress for an aggregate an
preparation OF $160,000 to be used in
establishing an experimental parcel
post on rural routes, In cities having
free delivery and in a general investi-
cation Of the subject. Mr.. Hitch
cock Is confident congress will act fav-
orably on his recommendation, but he
may be disappointed.
General financial legislation 10 ur-
gently required, but few persons think
any will be enacted. With the tariff
taking first place in congress, the AL
drich plan of currency reform--or any
other plan-will have little chance to
receive serious consideration. No leg
islation Of so great Importance will
ever pass congress without the fullest
consideration.
The prospect Is that the house DEM
ocrats will continue the many inves-
LEGATIONS which they have started
and start some more-tllus dwarfing
the legislative programme in many
respects. Already many thoughtful
democrats are complaining that too
many Investigations are under way.
but the more radical element. which
appears to be In control In such mat
ters. is bent on investigating about
everything In sight and some things
before they come within the range DE
vision. It Is probable that an almost
hopeless tangle will result out or
which the democrats win strive to ex-
tract everything possible in the way
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