New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-27
EXTRA SESSION OUTLOOK MAY |NDcT ONE TODAY
Not Likely to Do Much Except
Approve Canadian Reciprocity.
THAT MAY BE LONG FIGHT
Floods of Democratic Oratory on
All Sorts Of Topics Assured
Popgun Tariff Bills Expected.
Iron me Tribune Bureau


From me Tribune Bureau
Washington March 1.-THE first session
O. the Sxty-second Congress promises 10
be chiefly notable for an unendins flow of
oratory. and tho prospects for anything
even approaching sharp and decisive action
are dismal indeed With an even dozen
Democratic debutantes in the Senate anu
eighty new Democrats in tho House al
coming TO Washington surcharSed Win
PATRIOTISM and weighted With the respon-
sihity Of saving the Democracy in 1917
and the Constitution Of the United states
IN the mean time. any hope of conserva-
zion al heated atmosphere would be futile
even in the absence % a legislative pro
srammc filed with possibilities Of inter
minable discussion Unfortunately. prac-
ideally all the measures likely TO be CON
sdered will encounter strong opposition
and cause protracted debate
According 20 present plans, which are
not. Of course matlred. the first subject
20 come Mp will be the resolution providing
for an amendment 10 the Constitution 10
effect the election of Senators by direct
popular vote.
That this subjec, will occupy four weeks
Cr inc trnf OF the folplUt St'~N'N - l'i'h-
ably a conservative estimate.
An carly effort will he made TO pass the
ieappor,ionment hill which failed at the
last session. and while this Is hardly sub
ject which lends itself 10 forid defamation.
II will probably be debated AZ more or less
length. especially in the upper house. The
rsssage OF the measure is regarded as as
,ured
Reciprocity Will Meet Opposition,
The Speaker and other leaders
~ the House are authority for the predic-
ton tha. prompt action will be taken In the
lower chamber on the Canadian reciprocity
agreement, but whether that means action
preceded by debate Of less than two or
three weeks remains 70 ~ seen. Represent
atve Underwood. who should he an au-
thority on the subject predicts the passage
81 the Canadian resolution by the first Of
Nav but il is certain that when 1t has
PASSED the House its troubles viii DC fa~
less than half over. in tho Senat" = viii
encounter not only the opposition If Ger
tsin Democrats out that # a considerable
number II Republican insurgents. Nor Will
this opposition b. simple and direct Vol
,nes Of The Congressional Record will l."
.,led with oratory intended solely for home
consumptfon and delivered even ny those
oho. when The test comes. will nor have
the courage 70 vote against II. Then .
number Of IT'S opponents viii resort % ef-
forts so 70 amend ~ as al once 10 convince
their agricultural constituents that they
arc acting in their interests and indirectly
70 accomplish the defeat Of the agreement.
-. 81
snalyeis the reciprocity resolution viii r.
voted for nv tWc-thirdS ~ tho membership
Of the senate ont even Il ne is right, that
does not mean that many If that number
ycill not vor. for amendments which Il
adopted would make reiNction az the agree
ment by Canada inevitable.
Those hes, able 80 gauge the progress Of
legislation IN 'he upper house assert m
I, would take the senate ~ least six weeks
30 pass the reciprocity agreement after "
came from the Houso. even II II Wee
promptly made the unfinished business and
Nc other measure permitted even tenn
rora,ily 20 disrlacs IL
VFhe,her or not. throuc7 coalition Of
REPUBLICAN insurgents and Democrats, an
effort will re made - pa-s certain popgrn
tariff bills before thc reciprocity agree
mon, is sent 20 the President remain TO
n. seen Some OF the insurgents. throueh
lovalt, 20 the Tariff Board. will decline 90
vote for any measure not based on the
results Of its Investigations. Z; is note
worthy. however. that the Republican, ma
iority in tho uppe~ house il small and that
here are some Insurgents who will
neglect no opportunity TO pursue course
they believe will emharrass The President
These are tho men whose motto is
obviously II not admittedly. anything 70
lniurc Taft"
Although the President returned 20
washington witt MS mind fully made M
10 urge the passage of The Tariff Board
bW in his FIRST message ~ ~" ueW
congress the conditions as he has found
,hem here have led him 10 reconsider that
determination. and he Is now undecided
reesrdine the advisabinty Of throwing this
additional titbit TO the oratorical glutt"ns
Z, tho Two houses OF Congress. But
whether he does so or not. Tariff BOARD
an will be introduced, probably IN hoth
houses. and the tariff is certain TO PROVOKE
extended debate
=. must Re admitted that conditions IN
10Th houses are chaotic. that predictions
,.sardins the course o. Congress in the
coming session are necessarily largely spec,
s,is,i,e and that experience has serN"d
xtrikip9ly 10 demonstrate the Infinite "a
pac'tv ~ the Democracy 20 perpeUale 20
tfcal blunders. but II cannot T." dehleu
that present indications seem Cieary |"
.orecast a protraCted. tedious and unsatls-
factory session, relieved 10y only one meri,o.
rious enactment the ultimate approval OF
tho Canadian reciprocity agreement.