The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-28
Will Continue to Add
Amendments to Every
Bill Passed
TAFT SHOULD ASK
FOR IT'S REPEAL
He Is Playing Politics Along With
the Rest of Them, and Doing II
Amateurishly-Batt
Another Problem
BY c. E. STEWART

BY C. E. STEWART
Washington, July 27--(Special. lit
appears that the Senate is determined
TO make a football of the reciprocity
act, and they are consistently engaged
In kicking that measure around" be-
tween themselves and the House They
have tackled an amendment for its re-
peal and the creation of permanent
non-partisan tariff board onto the DEM
ocratic excise tax bill, In face of the
fact that the House has already turned
down two such amendments. This only
serves to delay and deadlock legislation.
1t is said that the Senate will continue
to add amendments for the repeal of
reciprocity and the creation of the tar
If board to every bill passed by that
body and give the House the trouble
of rejecting thenfs and thus continue
the play Of petty politics to the edi-
fication of the country.
Taft Wants Repeal
President Taft would now welcome
repeal of the reciprocity act in the
form of an amendment 20 some impor-
tant bill SO that his approval of the
bill would enable him to put himself
in negative position as TO reciprocity.
He could in this way straddle dilem-
ma But IL the sentiment of the House
does not change, he does not stand a.
swell chance of having an opportunity
to get away with anything like that.
If the President is really in favor of
the repeal OF the reciprocity agree
ment, because OF the fact he has had
an honest change of heart as to the
al fph 70 tha
try If it were in effective operation, or
If he thinks that If it were repealed the
country would stand better chance
to get through a bill more conducive
to- public good after Canada had worked
her way round to meet the views of
this country on reciprooty-as 1t seems
to be doing from the result of recent
elections in that country--in short IL
the President thinks it better for the
country repeal the reciprocity agree
ment now-w.ly, say the democrats.
does he not send a message to Congress
and frankly state his nosition and his
''easons for 1t and ask them to repeal
the billZ
Did Not Hesitate Before
Can he consistently declare that he ia
vors the repeal Of reciprocity in his
speech of acceptance, or In his campaign
that is to follow, il he falls to ask con-
gress in a message to repeal the act? He
did not hesitate to call special session
of congress together to pass it, and laid
before them fully his views. and ask them
as democratic body to pass this act
which he terms non-partisan measure,
and which was so accepted by them and
after a long gruelling fight was put on
the statute books. This is the same body
that passed the bill and the same body
he asked to pass it. Why can't he again
come before them with a message and
say that he believes it wise to repeal it.
II he so desires, instead of conniving with
republican Senate which kas always
been hostile TO the measure to wipe it off.
the records with amendments which only
harass and defeat legislation. If the
President comes out in his campaign ia
voring the repeal Of reciprocity 1t might
be well to remember that he has not
asked for its repeal in the body that he
called upon when he favored its passage.
The truth of the matter is, that the
President Is playing politics along with.
the rest of them. and he is playing a very
clumsy and amateurish game that does
hot give him any greater standing as a
4 politician and strips him of all vestige of
craftsmanship.
BattleshiDs a Problem
Another question that is arouslng more
than ordinary interest at this time Is the
battleship programme or lack of pro-
gramme would better express it.
The democrats are divided in their
opinion on what might be termed or con-
stTued as an adequate navy" Some OF
them favor two battleships and others
one and still others none at all, until it
1s hard to say Just what is going to be
done about the Senate amendment pro-
viding for two.
Governor Wilson may be appealed to
to decide the question, but it is now be-
1ieyeG there will be a compromise OF the
" mr. l.xtx
ship of the dreadnaught size.
1t is said that the regular, republicans
have mapped out plan that will give
President Taft an opportunity to veto the
. wool revision bill as passed by the House.
advancing the argument that its rates
are much lower than would be justified
by the tariff board. The question of ap-
proval will be left TO him. To that end
the LaFollette substitute amendment at
the last moment would be eliminated.
LaFollette in Minority
This result is to be achieved by ap-
pointing conferees in the usual manner.
A year ago the regulars" refused to
serve and the matter of whipping the
two bills into shape was turned over to
I-aFollette and the democrats. Mr.. La
Toilette this time will be in hopeless
minority and the Senate conferees will
accept the House bill as passed They
expect that the House conferees will
gladly accept such proposition
Then the regulars will unite with the
Senate democrats to accept the recon-
mendations of the conference committee
and send the, House bill to the President
and thus defeat wool legislation by the
Presidents veto.
1t is evident that II the predatory inter-
ests have any friends in the Senate that
those wide awake to what is expect
ed of them.
CTICDECTC WIFI DN