The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-04-08
SENATE MOVES
RATHER SLOW
Members of Both Branches
are Impatient Over Delay
of Tariff Bills.

Washington. April S.-Senators and
representatives are becoming impa
tient over the senate's delay on the
tariff. appropriation and other import
ant legislation but the leaders, f1gur
ing that the ways can be cleared
dence that congress can adjourn be-
fore the national party conventions in
June.
Republican Leader Penrose has
agreed with the democratic and pro-
gressive republican leaders that the
house steel hill shall he called up
week after next. be made the unfin-
ished business and that prompt ac-
ton shall be taken on all pending
bills M order to facilitate adjourn
ment. The finance committees ad-
verse report on the steel bill already
is before the senate and. the minority
r.prrt. standlng for the democratic
house measure, will be framed at a
meeting of democratic leaders in a
day or two. The house has finished
it's tariff revision program unless it.
should decide to pass a cotton bill
based on expectations of favorable ac-
tion in the senate on the various tar
iff bills already sent over from the
house.
The progressive republican iron and
steel revision bill which Senator Cum
Minis is drafting. will make what he
calls quite reduction from the
present tariff but not enough to COM
mand the first vote of the democratic
senators who later. however. may join
the progressive republicans on the
Cummins proposition.
While the house has passed nine
appropriation bills with six yet to
come in from committees. the senate
has acted on hut one-the urgent de-
ficiency which became a law in De-
cember.
The worknlen's compensation bill,
framed by the federal employers la
bilitr commission will he brought UP
In the senate tom orrow when Senator
Chamberlain of Oregon will speak or
it. Following his .peech Senator Ow-
en- of Oklahoma will urge federal
state cooperation in building roads.
which the house will dispose of this
week Will precirttate spirited and
prolonged debate because of radical
disagreement over its provision for
esta blishinG q parcels post system.
Most of the democrats. however. favor
the parcels post. The democratic lead
ers are planning to pass the bill with
that provision retained and the rules
committee is prepared to bring in a
special rule to meet the expected oh
lection that the parcels post provision
is now legislation and therefore not
germaine to a regular appropriat ton
bill
The advocates of antitrust lcgis,a-
tion during the present session of
congress determined to press the
austion. The immediate difficulty lies
in getting bill out of the senate
committee on interstate commerce
where several measures are pending.
Although Senator Clapp. progressive
mittee majority of its members are
opposed to further legislation at this
time and they have contrived to pre-
vent action upon any of the b:;ls.
The committee is composed Of six
teen members, making nine necessary
to transact business. The committee
has been holding almost constant
meetings since the middle Of last No
vember. but most Of them have been
for conducting hearings and il is
Claimed that none of them has there
been quorum in attendance. The
effect of this non-attendance has been
to prevent action.
To meet that difficulty Senator Cum
minsh also republican progressive,
procured the adoption of resolution
at the last meeting constituting men,
ners as quorum. but after that ac-
tton had been taken a question was
raised as to the legality of so small
quorum and II has become necessary
to determine this point before pro-
ceeding to the consideration of the
bills before tho committee. Even
members of the committees are known
to have favored legislation and II the
Cummins resolution stands they will
be able to force action.
II the supporters of this lcgisla-
tion succeed in getting a bill out of
the committee even though with an
adverse report they will insist upon
thorough consideration by the senate
with the possibility of prolongins the
Raypinn ~