Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-05-12
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
BY CLYDE H. TAvENNER.


That reactionary Republicans in the SEN
ate are lying in wait for the farmers free
list bill and other progressive legislation
passed by the Democratic House is becom-
ing more evident every day. The obvious
motive is two-fold, to protect the mOnopo-
lies and profits of the tariff trusts and to
prevent, if possible, the Democrats from
fulfilling promises made to the people.
The group of Senate Tories is still able
to exert tremendous influence upon leg
islation. Having packed all the important
committees of the Senate with men who
take the same attitude toward the particu-
lar legislation to come before them that big
corporations take, the reactionaries are in
position to continue serving special privi-
lege by obtructing the passage of measures
desired by the people.
Among those whom the public may rely
upon to oppose most of the progressive
House measures are Gallinger, Smoot. Lori
mer. Guggenheim, Stephenson, Lodge, Oil
yer, Warren, Perkins and dozen Others,
who will at all times have the hearty CO.
operation of Vice-President Sherman.
Back of this group of reactionaries are
arrayed the tariff trusts, the railroads, Wall
street, Standard Oil and the balance of the
organized wealth of the country
Democrats and the progressive Republicans.
The latter forces will, when necessary, I'M
doubtedly combine to prevent the passage
of bad BILL but they will be helpless at
times to prevent the Tories from obstruct-
ing the passage of progressive House leg
islation, such as the farmers free list bill.
About the only thing the average citizen
can do is to keep tab on the votes of his
individual representative in both House
and Senate, noting particularly whether
they vote for or against legislation desired
by the people, and when election time rolls
around to act accordingly
ALDRIcH SENATOR De FAcro.
Cooperating with the group of Senate
Tories that is planning to interfere with
the passage of such antitrust measures as
the free list bill is Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich,
of Rhode Island. Nominally Mr.. Aldrich is
connected with an institution Of his own
creation. called the monetary commission.
The commission has a suite of rooms ad-
joining the room occupied by the finance
committee. to which will 60 the free list
bill.
If it should happen, opines the Cleveland
Press that the door were open between
the rooms of the finance committee and the
rooms of the monetary commission, it might
happen that former Senator Aldrich might
communicate with Senator Penrose, the
new chairman of the finance committee,
and thus the titular head of the Senate
majority might have the benefit of the
views of the ex-leader (and possibly leader
de focto) of the United States Senate.
As matter of fact Mr.. Aldrich keeps in
close touch with all the reactionaries just
as he did while officially Senator.
TAFT ANTAGoNIzEs PRoGREssIvEs.
Mr. Taft took the leading part in the
fight against giving the progressive Re-
publicans of the Senate the committee
places they demand, which resulted in
leaving all the big Senate committees the
same citadels of special privilege that they
were in the previous Congress.
Before the Republican caucus was held
the Republicans of the Senate signed an
agreement by which they agreed to give
the progressives a One-fourth representa-
ton on all the committees. Senator Pen
rose, who signed the agreement for the
regulars is said to have bitterly arraigned
his colleagues for putting him in the posi-
ton of breaking his political word, which
he declared he had always especially prided
himself upon keeping invioIate.
1t now develops that Penrose's breach of
faith with the prOgressves was forced by
White House pressure. President Taft con-
siders progressives like La Toilette his per-
sOnal enemies, and he does not want them
in position to assist in bringing about
the passage of legislation like the farmers
free list bill, which they could do by COM
bining with the Democrats If given the
representation on the big committees to
which their numerical strength entities
them.
SCHEDULE TX" Is NEXT.
Schedule X. the joker-filled wool schedule
of the Payne Aldrich tariff law, will be the
subject of the first general tariff revision
of the Democratic House.
All the jokers by which rates have been
piled one upon another until the total has
been far in excess of 100 per cent. are to
be abolished.
Likewise there will be abolished the in
famous provisions of the Payne Aldrich
law. by which material containing WOOL
but really made of cotton, is taxed as wool
The average reduction on all items in the
wooden schedule is expected to reach at
least rs per cent.
What the Democrats propose will cause
a tremendous cutlery from the WOODEN trust
and its allies. the producers of raw wool,
IL,
of Wyoming, Lippett, of Rhode Island, and
the other high protectionists of the Senate
into predicting the downfall of the nation.
WIcKERsHAM Is WORRIED.
United States Attorney General Wicker
sham is worrying. He is afraid the inves-
LEGATIONS to be made into the affairs of the
steel trust, sugar trust. shoe trust and
wooden trust will give these concerns i'm
munity from prosecution. As all of these
concerns, with the exception of few $18- |
a-week employees of the sugar trust, have |
enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecu-
ton and investigation since the day Mr..
Wickersham left the service of the SUGAR
trust to become the chief prosecuting Off |
Ger Of the government. it is difficult to under
stand how the immunity which they might |
receive, but will not, through congressional |
investigations could be any more complete |
than the immunity Mr., Wickersham has |
given them.
SHOULD Be INTERESTING.
The inquiry to be made by the House of |
Representatives into the political machine |
of Postmaster General Hitchcock is one in
which the whole country will be interested. |
The resolution Of inquiry directs the post
office committee to determine how much
political work is performed by postmasters
and subordinate Officers1n the postoffices
of the country. and by what authority they
neglect their official duties and violate the
civil service law. II has long been charged
that through postoffice department pat
ronage the Postmaster General has estab-
lished machine for the control Of dele
gates TO the national convention.
Warning to Railroad Men.
+. S. Bacon. II Bast street. Bath. Me-.
sends out this warning to railroaders "A