The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-05
GENERAL GOSSIP OF WORK DONE AT HE
 NATIONS CAPITAL
Mir. NewIands Precipitates a Lively Debate in Senate
 Over Resolution
TO REVISE STEEL
 SCHEDULE FIRST
All Hope of Agreement Between the House and Senate on Direct Elec- ton of Senators Given Up.
 The First Caucus


 Washington. January 4.-Senator . Newlands of Nevada precipitated live ly debate today when he attempted to force upon the Senate his resolution providing for a legislative programme He sought Intellectually to have his resolution made the unfinished busi- ness, with the result that the ensuing discussion took a wide range, entering the complicated field of the tariff The report of the tariff board and the board ifself also figured.
 Speaking of the board. Senator Reed of Missouri characterized it as ''an unauthorized and illegally constituted body" When Senator Smoot, support L ing the board, expressed the hope that | it's recommendations would be. em- VI bodied in legislation, the Missouri sen ator replied. that he would not permit any five men to tell him how he should vote on the tariff or any other ques- tion.
 He did not beleive Congress should abdicate it's functions.
 When MT. Newlands declared it had been 40 years since the country had experienced a reduction of the tariff, Senator Gallinger called attention to the enactment of the Wilson law of the last Cleveland administration. He added that the country had required long time to get over that reduction. Oh responded MT. Newlands, that is ancient history
 
 It is not 10 years ancient" said MT. Gallinger
 Bailey and Newlands
 The proceedings also involved a spirited discussion between Mr New lands and Senator Bailey of Texas. Replying to charge by the Navada senator that representative government had proved a failure, the Texan de- clared that Congress had been especi- ally responsive to the public will dur ing the past 20 years. He added the opinion that but for some dema- eo1 iis.t z ss,.s- sss.a'sa t.s,-nsa se'1, more effective response When Senator Newlands manifested disposition to oonstrue the remark as q personal re- flection. MT. Bailey disavowed any such intention.
 The senator from Nevada has enough to be responsible for without adding that" said Mr. Bailey.
 Ampllfying his arguments in support of his proposition for providing an order of business, MT. Newlands men toned the neglect of Congress to en- act legislation for the Improvement of waterways and for failing to provide for q physical valuation of the rail- roads as instances wherein Congress failed to respond to the popular demand for action.
 He charged that the appointment of the national waterways commission had been made to postpone action. describing the proceedings as sand bagging' pro- cess in which he said two republican and two democratic senators had partici- pated. He asserted also that the rail- roads had been instrumental in opposing the improvement of the navigable streams. Serator Gallinger objected to MT. New lands request for recognition of his reso- lution. and, after two hours of discussion, the subject was dropped.
 To Revise Steel
 First of the tariff revision schedules to come before the democratic member ship of the ways and means committee will. be iron and steel, when the commit- tee meets tomorrow to consider the draft of a bill prepared by a subcommittee. which has had the subject under con- sderation for some time. The sub-com- mittee bill provides for free iron ore and a general reduction from 30 to 30 per cent on all steel and iron products The bill would add to the free list carpenters tools and other ordinary articles in com mon usaee The subcommittee, composed of Rem resertatives Dixon of Indiana, Palmer of Pennsylvania and Hull of Tennessee, agreed today upon the tentative draft of the measure Chairman Underwood fin mediately called a meeting of the dem octatic members to consider the biii and it is probable that it will be ready for presentation in the House next week.
 No caucus on the tariff legislative pro- rramme has been suggested yet and it is probable that there will be none un- til the wool schedule is ready.
 Hopelessly Divided
 All hope of agreement between con- ferees of the two houses of Congress on the resolution providing for election of Trited States senators by direct vote of the people has vanished. The cpnferees on the resolution providing for the con- stitutional amendment have reached the cor clusion that an agreement would be Impossible and a report to that effect is expected next week.
 The difference between the House and Senate conferees is basd on a qustion of congressional supervision. As passed b, the House the resolution placed the control of senatorial elections in the hands of the state legislatures. The Sen- at amended the resolution leaving the control in the hands of Congress. This al estion has been debated by the con ferees since the extra session and after many meetings representatives on each side have been unable to offer conces- sions which would be acceptable
 Senators today. anticipating the fail : ure of the conference were interested fin the course to be pursued, but~in nal conferences resulted in no conclu- sion.
 Friends of the House measure are urging recession of the Senate's action.
 Election Returns
 The formal certificate and returns of New Mexico's first election pros pective state were placed in the hands of President Taft today. delegation from the new state took the papers 10 the White House. President Taft was much interested. for it was the first time he has had chance to add an- other star to the flag
 The President sent the papers to Sec
 
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