Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-06
HOUSE ASPLAYTH|NG
Democrats Delighted With
Their New Toy.
WATCH WHEELS GO ROUND
Another Caucus Probably Will Map
Out Definite Program.
RECIPROCITY MAY BE DELAYED
Likely to Be Held in Allegiance Until
Senate Acts on General
Tariff Revision.
RECIPROCITY MAY BE DELAYED

steam engine, the members Of the House
have done nothing thus far except to fire
| 1t up and admire its action, standing by
with EXPLANATIONS Of delight to see the
wheels go around. The chug-chug OF the
new toy sounds grateful to democratic
ears and by the end of next week they
will have the machine geared up to start
the legislative grinding.
Tho dominant party has not yet de-
cided what is to go through the mill
first. plain reciprocity or cutting down of
the wool tariff. Another democratic eau
Gus probably will be held in the near fu-
ture to act upon a definite recommended
ton from the democratic members Of the
ways and means committee on this SUBJ
ject.
The ready acauiescence of the demo-
Gratis in the recommendations of their
committee on ways and means up to this
time inspires in the breasts Of the leaders
the hope that the ways and means COM
mittee may continue to be a steering
committee for the party and present legis-
lative programs which will be accepted
by the majority in a spirit Of harmony.
One contingency which the democratic
management is endeavOring to avoid is
getting legislation into such shape that
reciprocity with Canada will be effected
general tariff revision. The democrats
Of the House are intent on doing more
than ratifying the trade agreement De
tween the United States and Canada;
they have resolved In their preliminary
caucus upon general tariff revision.
Want to Avoid Deadlock.
If reciprocity should be put through it
would be quite within the power Of the
Senate, II opposed to tariff revision, to
cause a deadlock, which might afford the
President an opportunity to dismiss Con-
gress. He Is authorized by the Constitu-
ton In case of disagreement between the
two houses to adjourn Congress until
such time as may seem proper.
In all probability. therefore. the plan
Of the democrats will be to hold the
reciprocity bill in allegiance until they
have secured from the Senate action upon
general tariff rivision and the other tea
lures OF the legislative program outlined
at their caucus.
The republicans are shaking down into
their role of the minority gradually, but
not without some complaining. The elder
statesmen In both parties who have been
through more than one such change in
the House grinned yesterday to hear the
republicans complain because they were
being ridden down by the majority.
Protest by "Uncle joe"
But O. broad smile went over the men,
bership yesterday when ''Uncle joe Can
non uttered his plaintive protest against
the htgf-handed methods of the majority
in jammfng through their code of rules
without anording the minority opportu-
nifty to attempt to amend.
Minority Leader Mann is hard at work
trying to frame the minority membership
Of the committees to avoid as little fr4c-
ton as possible between the two re-
publican factions. Up to this time the
progressives have maintained a position
Of proud aloofness and have not asked
Mr.. Mann Tor favors in committee as
signments.
This role is easily PLAYED. because it is
we'll understood that Mr.. Mann has no
intention OF discriminating against the
progressives ON factional grounds; he has
said as much in effect. Moreover, il he
should do 50, 1t Is not impossible that
tho democratic ways and means commit
tee might reject the recommendations
and place the progressives on committees
In a way to trouble the "Old guard"
The eagerness with which the members
of the new House entered upon their
duties was shown by the number Of bills
introduced the first two days Of the ses-
number OF 1914 and 80 joint resolutions
were presented.
These measures covered almost every
conceivable subject Of legislation Public
provements were provided for. of course.
If all of the public buildings authorized
by the bills introduced in the last two
days should be provided for by Congress
the Treasury would show deficit of
enormous proportions.
Many Pension Measures.
If all the rivers and creeks should be
improved to the extent suggested by
these bills there would be deep water
navigation pretty much all over he east
ern half of the United States. The COM
mittee on pensions and the committee on
invalid pensions already have been
swamped by the number Of general and
private pension bills introduced the last
two days.
Under the restricted program Of legisla-
ton adopted by the democratic caucus
last Saturday. very few Of these bills
will emerge from committee pigeonholes
at this session, but the new members will
60 home with the proud consciousness
that they have done their best and were
only prevented from securing the public
improvements promised their constituents
In bA To- az INV, ha