New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-25
SENATE FACES BIG TASK
Many important Matters Are
Pressing for Solution.
STEPHENSON IS FAVORED
Close Vote Predicted in Wiscon-
sin Mans Case-Lorlmer
Friends Hopeful.

washington. Narcu 2i-Tho Senate" 'ar
behind I'm it's labors. will begin lo-w"r'""
the task of disposing of som" Of tn" NOR"
important problems confronting IT, y yot"
on the stephenson election cas-" will %"
taken on the legislative day Of March =.
on the following legislative day a vote will
he taken on the Sherwood pension hill, for
which less oxtravaEant mcasur" framed
hv Senator McCumbor will be offered as n
substitute.
The Senate committee which made the
second investigation Of the Lorimer cleo
ton will also meet this week 10 consider
. its report. which is to be submitted to the
senate as soon as possible Senator Pen
rose. chairman 81 the Finance Committee.
will present carly I'm the week the adv"rs"
report on the steel bill. passed hy the
House. and the committee will conclude
its hearings on the chemical schedule"
opening the way for tariff debate.
II is expected that At least two calendar
DAYS will he required 10 exhaust the de-
bate on the Stephenson case. at the end or
which the Senate probably will vote 10
clear the Wisconsin Senator Of the charges
Of corruption. These do not directly in
volvc the question whether or not bribery
was used 10 procure the election Of Sen
ator Stephenson. The case turns princi-
pally on the question whether the cXpcndi-
ture Of so large an amount a $4,000 in q
primary election is sufficient 10 invaIidatc
the actual election by the state Lcgis-
lature 1t is admitted that the vote will
be close. but the chances favor Senator
Stephenson.
The outcome Of the second investigation
Of the Lorimer case IS moro doubtful The
special committee Of the Senate will prob
ably divide on the question, the prospect in
the Senate itself, 50 far as IT is revealed,
being slightly TO the disadvantage Of Sena-
tor Lorimor. His adherents. however. be
lieve that the fact that little additional
light was shed on the alleged bribery by
the second investigation and that his cleo
ton was once declared valid by the Senate
and Is practically res ddjudicGtd will hav"
sufficient weight with Senator'S 20 insure
decision favorable to Senator Lorimer.
What course the tariff debate will take I'm
the upper house is problematical, because
Of the uncertain attitude Of the insurgents.
The regular Republicans will offer some
amendments to the House steel bill and
point out some of its more glaring defects.
The Democrats will support 1t. Convinced,
however, that they will not be able TO mus
ter sufficient strength to pass 1t, they have
notified the insurgents that they Will take
what IS offered 10 them in the way of tariff
reduction, indicating that they will enter a
coalition with tho insurgents as long as 1t
suits their purposes.
Senator Cummins is preparing a steel
bill which may serve as basis for tho
compromise. A similar compromise may be
reached on sugar. The attitude Of the in
surgents on the wool bills is doubtful. and
will probably remain so, as Senator La
Toilette, who has appropriated to himself
this particular field of the tariff, will prob
ably be deyoting his entire attention TO his
campaign. Up to the present time the in
surgent Senators have shown a disposition
TO oppose all Republican tariff revision UNI
less they are permitted 10 dictate the rates.
The wool bill n in dilemma. They
will he called )se between the
Democratic s olican bills, the
latter based or the TariH
BOARD. for mt OF which the
insurgents COZ Ir great fight dur
ing the closing d, he last Congress.
Similarly, the insurgents are uncertain
what course TO pursue with respect to the
excise tax bill. Some of them are in
clined TO oppose II as laying burden on
industry and taxing earning capacity In
stead Of capital 1t is certain that the
measure will undergo a vigorous attack in
the Senate.