The Washington times., 1912-08-17
SENATE STRUGGLES
WITH PLAN TO GET
CLOSER HARMONY
Scheme to Have Executive
Sit With Both Houses
Again Brought Up.

Senator Newlands OF Nevada pro-
voked tariff discussion in the Senate
anew today. He did 1t by presenting
a resolution providing that the Senate
appoint committee of three to act
in cooperation with a similar COM
mittee OF the House with a view to
comforting with the President and
"harmonizing differences now exist
ing between Congress and the Presi-
dent regarding the reduction of ex-
Cessive duties
Before the Senate got through talk
ing about the plan. 1t got deep into
the. general question of having Con-
gress and the Executive work more
In harmony in legislation. Senator
Root brought up the plan of having
executive officers have seats in the
two houses.
Would Prevent Deadlock.
Senator Newlands had lengthy pre-
amble to his resolution reciting the
high tariff duties now in force, the fact
both Republican and Democratic parties
We're committed to revision, the fact
neither party was in complete control
Of Congress, and 1t was desirable to
prevent deadlock. and the fact the
President had vetoed certain bills. but
was nevertheless willing to sign bills
containing material reductions. He
spoke briefly. recltlng the existing sit
uation and dwelling on the need of
harmonizng differences between House
and Senate, and Congress and the Pres
ident.
Senator Smoot objected to immediate
consideration of the resolution or to
liking time for vote. However the
result of its presentation was to get
the Senate involved in a lot of dis
cussion over the constitutionality of the
proposition and over the broad ques-
tion of more workable relations be-
tween Congress and the President.
senator Lodge read the message of
resident Madison. July 6. 1913, in
which Madison declined to meet with
committee OF Congress appointed
to confer with him. He deemed It
outside the Constitutional limits.
What Washington Said.
Senator Lodge also read for the ed
ification of the Senate the incident
told by Crawford relative to a visit
OF President Washington to the SEN
ate with reference to ratification of a
certain treaty. Washington, accord
ing to the Veracious chronicler, when
he left the chamber, said he'd be
Il thought the story rather interest
ing" observed Senator Lodge, while
the Senate smiled.
Senator Root sympathized with the
vestigaton to ascertain II there was
not some way to make Congress and
the executive have more workable re-
lations. He suggested that the Execu-
tive officers have seats In the two
houses. as was recommended on a
former investigation of the subject
Wants Closer Contact.
Abiding to the hold-up Of appropria-
tion bills, he said:
I'VE are facing the weakest situation
in our system OF Government Legisla-
ton ought to be framed, II possible, with
a view to the Administration giving ii
effect. 1t is an unfortunate situation.
If we can't do away with 1t, we can re-
duce 1t by some system by which there
would be more frequent personal con-
tact. 1t Is a non-partisan situation and
] think II Is desirable to proceed along
practical lines to do what the Senator
from Nevada suggests"
Senator Bacon said the weakness of
the system to which Senator Root al
luded could be cured only by making
the administrative end of the Govern
ment responsive to the legislative as
was done in nearly all civilized coun-
tries.
Further discussion was evoked but
the resolution went over without ac-
lion.