Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-03-09
CONGRESS CLOSED
IN WILD DISORDER
--
The House Had Been in Continuous
Session rs Hours.
EXTRA SESSION MARCH 4
Neither Canadian Reciprocity Nor
Tariff Board Bill Got Through
Cannon Fought to
the Last.
EXTRA SESSION MARCH


Washington, March 6.-The sixty.
first congress closed In dissension and
wild disorder, with an extra session
called for April 4 by a disappointed
president
A republican majority in the sen.
ate, with an almost contemptuous re
gard, ignored President Taft's cher
ished plan for reciprocity with Can
ada, passing 1t on to the tender mer'
cies OF democratic house.
Amid scenes OF convulsive confu
sion, the-house democrats, by an eley.
enth-hour filibuster, delivered a sud.
den and unexpected death blow to the
presidents beloved permanent tariff
board plan, in the very moment Of ita
success.
President Taft was told weeks ago
that his former friends In the senate
the old guard that has passed into
history-would not sustain him In his
desire for the reduction Of customs
duties proposed in the Canadian
agreement. He drafted and com
pleted the call for the extra session In
advance and its issue was q mere sor-
mality after congress closed its
doors.
A back-to-the-people movement was
evident when Senator owen-the tall,
unrelenting Indian from Oklahoma
faced, and single handed, defeated the
effort to ratify the ultra-conservatiye
constitution Of New Mexico. He de.
manded an equal consideration Of the
Arizona constitution, which he de
clared was "the most progressive In
the world" The result was that
neither was approved. All the demo
Gratis except three voted with Owen.
The scenes of violence that marked
the last hours of a continuous session
Of more than twenty-six hours in the
house were picturesque. The members
weary, bedraggled unkempt and un.
washed, were in no mood for foolery.
and hot words were the regular order.
Uncle Joe," the picturesque old fig-
ure, was in his element. He rode
rough sAod over everything that
seemed to challenge his right to run
the house as he thought best, until
Fitzgerald, getting the floor for q mo
ment, obtained the advantage and
caught the venerable fighter In par.
liamentary trap. Cannon was forced !
to rule in his favor, and the way was
opened for two more roll calls before
the tariff board bill could be reached.
1t was then 1880 and only half an
hour remained before adjournment.
When the first roll call was half com
pleted Representative Payne, repub-
lican of New York, who was in charge
Of the bill, interrupted and declared
that in order to let the various ap-
preparation bills pass, he would with
draw the tariff board measure The
democrats cheered madly.
Then peace settled over the weary
assemblage and until tho time that
the house adjourned there was good
will. The crowded galleries, that had
leaned forward breathlessly to watch
the bitter passage between Cannon
and Fitzgerald. now saw democrats
and republicans, regulars" aud In
working quietly side by
side, to rush the remaining necessary
work of the session.
Before the last bill was passed.
Champ Clark. the Missouri leader and
speaker OF the next house, offered
resolution comforting the thanks Of
congress on Speaker Cannon.