The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-06
Realized That Many important
Matters Must Fail on AC-
count Of Lack of Time
MEMBERS IRRITABLE AND
WORK ON HIGH TENSION
Senator Borah Determined There Shall
BE n Vote on His Bill for Direct
Senatorial Elections While
Other Members Object

l
, worked under high tension during the last
week and the prospects for the remainder
of tho session do not promise many days
barren OF excitement. The congestion Ia
such that appropriation bills are in some
danger, but members of experience recall
conditions equally bad which were met
without the necessity of extra sessions.
| The real difficulty in both branches
seems to be that there are numerous mat
| ters of a political or partisan nature be-
ing pressed for consideration before tho
close of Congress on March and it is
| realized that many of these must fail
| through lack of time. The inevitable re-
suit is to make members irritable over
delays and not infrequently the time hon.
| ored and much vaunted courtesy between
factions in Congress has been depressed
almost to the principal of complete dis
| appearance.
Most of the measures of in1amsble
character are pending in the Senate, and
| chief among them are the Lorimer case
| and the resolution looking to the cleo
tion of senator's by direct vote of the
| people. The latter as result of a per-
| sstent fight made by Senator Borah,
who reported the resolution from the ju-
| dietary committee under circumstances
which assured a contest was advanced
! last week to the position of unfinished
| business.
Borah Is Determined
Senator Borah is determined that there
| shall be vote on his resolution in time
to obtain consideration by the House. He
will urge senators who oppose it to make
| their speeches early in the week. After
waiting what he believes to be a reason
able time he says he will insist upon con-
| tinuous consideration until vote is had.
| The indications that he has suf-
| ficient votes to carry out this programme.
| The situation is extremely interesting.
| A large majority of the republicans are
| opposed to the resolution, but the pro-
| gressive republicans and the democrats
control the situation by two or three
| votes. Several efforts were made by Sem
ator Borali 10 have day liked IN Nnf
i TO take vote, but unanimous consent
thus far has been refused Senator Hey
burn, the colleague of Mr.. Borah. re-
marked dryly one day that he thought
he would be ready to give such consent
or March L. which, of course, meant he
would oppose the resolution to the end
Could BE Held Up
One senator could prevent vote on the
resolution SO long as he has strength 10
| occupy the floor and three senators could
conduct a successful filibuster for week.
l
ably could hold the fort for the rest OF
the session without any difficulty what
ever. 1t Is unlikely. however, that meas
ures SO extreme will be taken. When Mr..
Borah on a roll call prevented an execu-
tive session on Friday in order to carry
| on the fight which gave his resolution
preference rights. Mr.. Hale acknowledged
that Mr.. Borah had the votes" The
inference was that the veteran republican
leader would be willing to permit the res
| olution to come to a vote.
"If the resolution passes the Senate
| 1t Is not known what its fate will be in
the House. Ordinarily, a measure which
had to do only with the manner in which
members of the Senate were elected
would find ready acquesence in the
House. This resolution, however, will en-
counter a crowded calendar. and perhaps
an unwillingness on the part of members
to give time to a measure in which they
have so little concern.
Lorimer situation
The situation has changed somewhat in
respect to the Lorimer case. 1t now locke
as IL there may be vote during the pres
ent session. Senator Burrows, chairman
| of the committee on PRIVILEGES and cleo
tions has promised it, and there are 9th
ers who favor Senator Loriiner who deny
that there is any plan to filibuster against
such vote. As this matter is entirely
in the hands of the Senate, and requires
no action by the House, any day before
March 4 will be sufficient for the record
ing of the Senate's decision as to whether
| Senator Lorimer is to continue as
| member of the body. f
Legislation to put into force the Cana
dian reciprocity agreement probably will
be greatly advanced during the present
week
Ways and Means Busy
Many applications were received by the
ways and means committee for hearings
but such hearings as are granted prob
ably will be disposed of by Thursday. The
| Mccall bill on the subject may be re-
ported out of the committee on the fol-
lowing day and rule to permit consid-
| GRAFTON of the measure without amend
ment will be brought in with little delay.
Many of those who oppose the reciproc-
ity agreement in the House coneede that
1t will pass, but the situation in the Sem
ate is not so favorable. The upper house
would not be likely to permit the passage
of d measure of much Importance un-
til after opportunity was had for full de-
bate. There will be no chance for such
debate this season. Senate leaders, how
ever. are extremely anxious that there
shall be no extra session. Some of them
fear that the calling of Congress after
March would arouse sentiment through
out the country in favor of a general re-
vision of the tariff. These republican
leaders say that the temper of the coun-
try at the present time is such that a
tariff revision session might menace the
principle of protection. Whether this
fear will weigh heavily enough to cause
the Senate to act upon reciprocity agree
ment is doubtful. Most OF the democrats
are believed to be in favor of the agree
ment but to determine this question
caucus has been called for tomorrow
night to frame party policy with re-
spect to the question.