The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-05-27
WHAT WILL CONGRESS DO
Continued IRON Page one,

E&E
Continued FROM Page Ona.
Senator Hepburn OF Idaho. This was
taken to indicate that IL congress adj
journs next month 1t viii be without
action by the senate on n tariff bill.
In view of the loud protestations of the
republicans OF the senate that they
favored revision of tariff schedules
after investigation by the tariff board.
It is believed that the senate must at
least vote on the wool bill, which was
reported adversely by the finance COM
mittee. Senator LaFollette of Wiscon-
sin was most largely responsible for
the compromise between the two
houses during the extraordinary ses-
sion which resulted in sending to Pres
ident Taft the bill which he vetoed.
The badger senator has not yet been
actively at work in the senate for
months, and it Is not known that he
has devoted any time to working out
a new wool bill. or to carefully COM
pairing the old compromise measure
with the figures presented by the tariff
board for the purpose of ascertaining
whether it is justified by the tariff
boards report on schedule K. Some
progressives and most democrats in
sist strenuously that the LaFollette
compromise measure is more than JUS
titled by the report, and that the rates
in it could be lowered at various
points and still come within the scope
Of the boards finding.
Regardless of any action on the
wool bill. however, there is scant pros
pect for an early adjournment and the
rank and file Of the membership OF
both houses are resigned to a prolonged
session. There has been from time to
time talk Of a recess during the period
of the two national conventions, but
1t is known that some OF the leaders
are afraid it would be impossible to
get enough members Of the house back
to Washington to maintain a quorum.
At any rate, many democrats and some
republicans, probably as many in pro-
portion, would go to their districts and
remain there If a recess were ordered.
This is the fear of the leaders. Ma
jority Leader Underwood OF the house
is not willing to take chances on hav-
ing the democratic machine In that
body crippled by any such contingency.
Besides, the house and senate can adj
journ for three days at a time without
Joint action. This would give ample
opportunity for all democrtsw who so
desire to go over to the Baltimore con-
vention. Republicans also could ar
range to go to the Chicago convention
by making a hard and fast agreement
with the democrats on matters Of legis-
Iation.
Many democrats of both houses
would rather see a protracted session
than have congress rush important
through without careful con-
sideration. Some of the most widely
criticised legislation which congress
has passed has gone through in this
way. "Jokers" thrive and multiply in
the rush of the closing days and hours.
Occasionally all-important 'jokers'
have been slipped into bills in the last
few minutes Of a session.
Every member of both houses who
has a fight on in his district or
state for reelection naturally desires
to get away. Not a few have obtained
consent 20 absent themselves tempo
rarily in order that they may look aft
er their fences" There seldom Is a
quorum on the floor of either senate or
house, but more than a quorum always
is in the city. Not a few members of
both houses insist that the country
would breathe a sigh Of relief If con-
gress would pass the appropriation
bills within the next few weeks and
adjourn without enacting any other
legislation, and that no storm of crit
icism'' would follow.
The democratic leaders Of the house
are fairly well satisfied with their leg
islative record to date, regardless Of
action by the senate. They can go be-
fore the people and proclaim the vir-
tues OF the legislation which has been
passed by the house and declare that
the failure OF the senate to pass
democratic measures is conclusive
evidence that they care nothing for
the dear people. 1t is for this reason
that the democratic leaders of the
house got together recently and reach.
ed q tentative agreement to adjourn
June IS.
The democrats of the house have
played politics. to good effect SO faI
as the passage Of bills is concerned
Judging from some of the remarks
made by some Of the leaders on the
floor from time to time. this is all tina
the house need do In order I o keep the
pledges of the democratic platform tt
the American people. They pledged
the people to enact legislation on nu.
merous subjects. OF course, bills
passed by the house and not pushed
through the senate are like paper
money that does not bear the oficia
seal-just so much paper. But thu
democrats are planning to get by'' OF
the ground that it was useless to at.
tempt to get the senate TO concur ii
some of the bills which they passed
Apparently they believe the peopI,
will be satisfied with this performance
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