The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-06
SENATE DEFEATS
ROOT AMENDMENT
Virginia Senator, Says Washing
ton Herald, Was Mot Dis
posed to Acquiesce In IT,
Other Democrats Do
Not Object.

WASHINGTON, D. c. Special
The Herald printed the following
Tuesday morning:
The Root amendment to the Ca
madam reciprocity bill was defeated
1n the Senate late yesterday after
noon. No roll call was demanded,
and there was no record vote. The
Vice President simply stated the
question. There was a mild chorus
of Ayes" and louder chorus %
Noes" and the Vice President de-
clared the Root amendment lost. The
rejection of this amendment is eX-
actly in accord with President Taft's
wishes, because he regarded the
amendment as a menace to the bill.
IL Is believed now the Canadian reci-
procity bill has free sailing, and that
IL Will pass without amendment at a
much earlier date than has been gem
orally supposed.
An agreement was drawn up yes
terday by Chairman PenrOse. Of the
Finance Committee, aud submitted to
a number Of Senators on both sides
OF the chamber. This agreement pro-
poses that vote be taken by unani-
NOUS consent on the Canadian reel
procity bill on July oath, and that
the farmers free list bill should be
voted on the day following
vote on he'farmers' free list bill
There( WAS considerable interest
manifested on the floor when Senator
PenroBe produced this document. 1t
was mis- own conception. He took il
to 1.-THE Vice President and the two
refired to the rear of the Senate
chamber and began summoning Sem
ators to look at ii. Senator Martin
OF Virginia, was called in, but was
not very much disposed to acQuiesce
in It, Other Democratic leaders. in
Guiding Senator Williams, Of MissiS-
sippi, were consulted. Senator
Smoot. of Utah; Senator Root and
Senator sutherland were given a view
of the document
Senator PenrOse felt rather cheerful
when the Senate adjourned and said
that he would probably submit the
agreement TO the Senate today and ask
Tor unanimous consent that il be made
the standing order of business.
Insurgents Inclined to Balk.
The progressive Republicans, when
they learned Of the agreement. were
somewhat startled. They held hur-
ried conferences. and the indications
last night were that even if the Demo-
Gratis acQuiesce in the agreement a
number of the progressive Senators
VIII stand out against il, and in such
a contingency the agreement will fail.
IT could not be made the order by a
vote OF the Senate, for IL is the custom
OF the Senate not to close debate on
any question except by unanimous
agreement.
The Republica leaders believe that
out of the agreement will finally come
the matter. AS the hot weather in
creases in Washington there is a grow
ing unrest among the Senators to get
away to their homes. This is not con-
f1ned to the Republican side entirely.
Democratic Senators appear to be
equally anxious. The progressives
seem to be the only ones who want
to carry on the consideration Of the
tariff question generally during July
and August.
The date generally fixed by the pro-
gressiVes for the adjournment of the
extra session is in September, while
the regulars OF both parties are work
lug to bring about a disarmament not
later than August list. Some of the
progressives were saying last night
that when the time came TO agree on
the date for a vote they would insist
that the farmers free list bill and the
wool bill be voted on before the Cana
dian reciprocity bill.
May Require Longer Hours
Chairman Penrose intimated yester-
day that If the progressive Republi-
cans refused TO fix a day for a vote
he would ask the leaders on both sides
to back him up in an effort to require
those Senators who insisted upon de-
bate TO work overtime, believing that
IN course of time they would see the
advantages of voting on the pending
questions and returning home.