The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-29
DEMOCRATS
COVET SENATE
Speculate Over a Possible
Leader
DEBATE ON STEEL SCHEDULE
Money Trust Probe Still Causes Trouble
Appeal by Henry-Steam Roller
in the House Works with
Great Precision.

Washington, Jan. 20.--Scenting from
afar possession Of the control Of the
rcxt Senate, Democrats are already con-
sidering the organization of it, and es-
peeially who shall fill the chairmanships,
On the personnel depends greatly the
success OF legislation in that body and
particularly the management OF the
Senates affairs The leading chairman
is always the chairman of the finance
committee, who is frequently the leader
o. the Senate, and this position is GO
ing to be doubly important because OF
the tariff legislation the Democrats are
planning or think they may have to
consider, and also because of none
tary and other financial legislation,
should the proposed monetary reorgan-
Iization of the country be left over from
the present Congress
Senator Bailey of Texas has announced
that he will retire from the Senate
with this Congress. If the rule of senior
ity on the committees is to be fol-
lowed, Senator Simmons OF North Car
olina would come to front as chairman
OF the finance committee, and this is
looked upon by many Democrats as an
impossible choice The senator has
many limitations Somehow or other he
must be set aside and the Democrats
arc concluding that in recastiug the
committee there will be nothing left
to do but to ignore the rule Of senior
itv even though this be radical step.
This would enable such man as Sem
ator John Sharp Williams of Mississip-
pi. who is already on the finance com
mittee, but way down on the list to be
made the chairman and the Democratic
leader. This would be natural and an
able selection. 1t may be that the
Democrats will be disappointed in cap
turing the Senate in this falls cleo
tions, but they have only five seats
to gain, and since in two years they
have reduced the Republican majority
from more than 80 to 7, it would seem
that their expectations are quite war
ranted.
The House looked more lively Satur-
day in the debate over the so-called steel
bill The five-minute speeches seemed
worth while, and Chairman Underwood
was very indulgent. Great significance
was attached to the announced pur-
pose of the some 20 orr so progressive
Republicans to vote for The bill Just as
they did last summer for the other
Democratic tariff bills, This action was
thought prophetic of what the progress
sives can be expected to do in the Senate.
The Democrats urged their steam roller
with great smoothness. IT is becoming
evident that they will push all leg
isltaion right to the front and will even
include in such methods the great APP
preparation bills Such procedure ac-
celerates adjournment fairly early, and
so even Republicans are not averse to
being crushed by car methods, and even
senators are pleased to note and hear
Of the speed. The appealing statement
of Chairman Henry of the House rules
for everybody to get behind
the inquiry into the so-called money
trust was regarded as mild from him,
for Mr.. Henry is given to explosions
in hyperbole, but it was regarded fur
Their as being an ultimatum from Col.
Bryan and notice to the Bryan Demo
Gratis to get behind the banner of Henry.
Other Democratic leaders do not want
the inquiry, believing it would simply
confuse issues and perhaps displace the
tariff as a measure for political agita-
ton helpful to place Democrat in the
White House. II is said the committee
is quite split, and whether there will
be an inquiry seems very much an open
question.