Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-03

Washington, April 2.-Although the
Democrats in the House by official
caucus action have declared for tariff
| legislation during the extra session NJ
Congress beginning Tuesday. the pro
diction was freely made in congress
| sional circles tonight that no such leg
islation can be put through the SEN
ate and that the extra session will ad-
journ earlier than has generally be an
ticipated.
Sentiment among the regular Repufb-
licans in the Senate is overwhelming
~ against any sort of tariff revision
| at the extra session and there are null
tiplylng evidences that the regular Re-
pubicans are disposed to do all they
can to Plac" the progressive wing of
tic party in the Senate so as to bring
ABOUT some sort Of harmony. Without
the support of the progressives. the
Democrats cannot possibly get any
tariff bill through the upper branch of
Congress.
AS matters stand today. it is appar-
ent that the regular Republicans in the
Senate will do everything in their
power Ia postpone all matters of gen
er1l legislation until the regular ses-
sion next December. It is reported that
number of the lrogressVes are like
ly to fall in with this idea.
President Taft, by sending in a mes
sage dealing With Canadian reciproc-
ity alone, will pave the way for the
program Which the Senate Republicans
propose to adopt at a caucus to be
held probably on Tuesday afternoon.
that the tariff board will be ready with
complete report on the textile sched-
ules of the tariff by Dec. next. and
tho hope he has informally expressed
that Congress will decide to wait for
this report before acting on these
schedules. makes the situation little
more difficult for the Democrats in that
the Insurgent vote in the Senate is
likely to be Won over to the Presidents s
attitude.
The Republican Insurgents regard
the tariff board idea as of their own
creation. They have sdVocated it as a
scientific method of revising the tar
III, President Taft has worked hard
fer legislation making the board per
manent and may send in second
message to the extra session dealing
with TINS subject. 1t is pointed out to-
night that with a report on the much
discussed Woolen schedule promised by
next December, the Insurgent Repub-
licans will not stultify themselves by
voting for House bills amending these
schedules without regard to the tar
if board. There is little doubt but that
consideration of the reciprocity meas
nFr ~ l,.
Stnates time. 1t is argued that it will
lie late in June before consideration
could be given in the Senate to a
House hill dealing with even one sched-
ule of the Payne Aldrich law. With Il
determination ON the part of the 80 or
more senators that no such legislation
should be enacted at the extra session,
1t can be easily seen. according to the
Republican leaders that attempts to
get such measures through the extra
session would be futile.
There is said to he no disposition on the
part of the Senate Republicans to block
legislation of comparatively minor inn
portance at the extra session. District
of Columbia bills, deficiency bills and
bills to correct mistakes i'll the enrolment
of acts during the final rush of the last
session will be given right OF way. II
is even said that the subject of the reap
portionment of representation in the
House to accord with the figures of the
18th census may be taken up In the SEN
ate.
But when it comes TO matters affecting
the tariff and other matters on which
the debate would be well nigh intermina-
Bile, the regular Republicans say they
will draw the line and they believe the
progressives will act with them In doing
SO.
The Senate Republicans are just now
without a caucus chairman. Senator
Hale was the chairman, but he will not
be in the new Congress The caucus call
will be made by petition and the meeting
Will be held either Tuesday afternoon or
Wednesday. Senator Cullom of Illinois
will be chosen chairman by reason of the
fact that after Senator Frye, who has
declined on account of i'll health he is
the senior Republican in the Senate. Sem
| ator Gallinger Of New Hampshire will
be made chairman Of the Senate commit
tee on committees. 1t is said that the
committee assignments in the new Con-
gress will clearly indicate the purpose of
sv;x.