The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-11-30
I'm REGULAR SESSION.

session on next Monday, December
4, and the prediction has been made
that 1t is going to involve many
months of bitter strife over great POI
litfcal and economic issues. It 10 be-
lieYed that, In Legislative sense, the
session may rank as Of the highest
Importance, the indication being that
political lines will be closely drawn
and the ammunition manufactured for
q national campaign more holly and
desperately waged than any contest
since the memorable struggle between
the Bryan and Mckinley forces six
teen years previous. President Taft
has virtually admitted that crisis has
been reached in the history Of his
party and expressed doubt concerning
the outcome Of the approaching cam
paign. Touching upon matters to be
considered by congress during the
coming winter, in the order of their
relative importance, Washington
correspondent puts it this way:
"The tariff, with special application
to the wool, cotton and metal sched-
ules.
The trusts with a view to amending
the Sherman law and to creating q
system of national Incorporation of
concerns doing an interstate business.
Economy whereof the Democratic
house hopes to reduce the govern
ment's expense below the billfon-dol-
lar a-year mark set by the Republi-
cans.
Currency reform as to which the
Adrich or national currency commits
sion, plan for a central bank issue
will be the central feature.
Direct election of United States sem
ators, which was left in deadlock be-
tween the two houses when the extra
session was adjourned last August
House cleaning, as proposed by the
numerous special investigating COM
mittees of the house.
Scores of other questions, of great
consequence also, are put into the
background by comparison. A Demo
cratic plan of encouraging an Ameri-
can merchant marine, in lieu of the
Republican ship subsidy bill, will be
proposed. Likewise a measure pro-
! viding limited parcels post will orig
mate in the Democratic house commit
| tee on postoff1ces and postroads. A
scheme of Panama canal tolls, which
will have big influence upon the cost
, of tfanscontinental traffic, will be de-
bated. Such are few of the minor"
questions"
CAS- is usual the opening broadside
vii d H. r. t.. mr.
Taft will send in his annual message,
outlining the views and recommends
items of the administration. By De-
cember l, thereport of the Presidents
tariff board on the wool and cotton
schedules will be ready and upon this
report his position upon the tariff will
depend II is foregone conclusion
that the tariff experts will report find
Jugs" which will give the President the
excuse he wants to advocate a revi-
sion downward. AS to the other mat
ters, the President will ask for legisla-
ton to supplement the Sherman law,
chiefly by the enaction of the national
Incorporation idea, and he will endorse
! the Adrich currency plan, encourage
the economic policy, urge direct eIcc-
tons, and set forth a conservation
program.
The situation is such that the Presi-
dents saluting broadside will have lit
tie effect. A divided Congress will re-
assemble, not amendable to President
| Taft's persuasion or command In the
house tht large Democratic majority
will proceed to carry out Democratic
purposes with little regard for the
Presidents wishes or feelings In the
senate the insurgent Democratic coali-
ton is expected again to assume con-
troll. Just now the insurgents, busily
engaged in booming Senator LaFolIette
/ for the Republican nomination, are
even more anxious than the Democrats
to humiHate and belittle President
Taft
Just how much of the real law-lnak.
ing can emerge from the tangIe no one
may say. 1t is just possible that some
revision of the cotton and wool tarix
may be accomplished If the Presi-
dents tariff board opposes genuine re-
ductfons, the Democratic leaders and
insurgents, too, will be only too anx-
ious to grant them. Certain it is that
the President will be coerced to meet
unpleasant necessity of vetoing or
signing more insurgent- Democratic
ta11H bills. He vetoed bills passed by
the insurgents and Democrats last
summer because his tariff had not
| spoken"
The annual message of the presi-
dent and the report of his tariff board
are awaited with interest These will
form the basis for operations and fur
nish material upon, which the demo-
cratic pruning knife may operate eff
fectiyely. "On with the dance"
/