Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-06-19
FIGHTS IN SECRET
DEMOCRAT SENATE CAUCUS ON
TARIFF MEASURE BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS.
R0BS DEBATE OF INTEREST
Only Two or Three Senators of Ruling
Party Will Voice Their Objections
in PubIlc-MateriaI Changes Will
Be Few,
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Westinghouse the Democratic eau
Gus in the senate. held for the purpose
of discussing the tariff bill and of
binding the members to support it as
a party measure. were not held be-
hind closed doors the country prob
ably would be given the details of
the most interesting incident connect
ed with the present tariff debate in
the senate. The Democrats, for what
they say are adequate reasons. have
declined to follow the example which
publicans set by holding open eau
cuses.
1t is very likely that the only
thing really exciting in connection
with the tariff debate is the Demo
cratic caucus in the senate, for when
the bill gets to the floor 1t virtually
will be assured of united Democratic
three senators made temporarily
aliens to their party by sugar and
wool. In the caucus room when the
doors are closed the various members
say what is in their hearts against
different schedules of the bill and thus
one could get. If he could hear,
perfect line on individual Democratic
upper house opinions on the subject
of a measure which nearly all the
Democratic senators will support on
a final vote.
IL there were several Senator Dol
livers in the present senate interest
might hold its own in the coming tar
III debate even If 1t is the third or
fourth one Of recent history. Dolli-
yer is dead. however, and there is no
man just like him on either side of
the senate's center aisle today. Mr..
Penrose. the Republican leader, will
offer amendment after amendment to
the Democratic measure and these
viii call for lengthy debate, because
there is no way OF shutting it off, but
the give and take" on most of the
things which the Pennsylvania will
offer almost unquestionably will be
found to be in words identical with
those used on former occasions.
II They Said What They Thought.
What would make the debate in the
senate really exciting would follow the
granting Of permission by the party
leaders to every Democratic senator
to say openly just what he feels like
saying about the different schedules
of this bill to which the president of
the United States has given his sane
ton and over the passage of which
he holds party authority. The two
Louisiana senators can be depended
upon to say some things not entirely
sweet about sugar. and 1t is probable
that John Sharp Williams, whose
tongue Is keener than his middle |
name. will add some pointed words |
about what he considers the inequali-
ties OF the bill which his Alabama
friend has sent over coupled with
request to put it through expedi-
tiously
Certain dispatches recently had it |
that Senator Owen of Oklahoma in
tended to introduce resolution to |
amend the senate rules so that de- |
bate could be shut off at any time, as
1t Is possible to do in the house of |
representatives. 1t is not likely, 1t is |
said. that the Oklahoman could COM
mand ten votes from either or both |
parties on such proposition.
! Few Material Changes Likely.
In the Democratic caucus, the walls |
of the room having no ears, the sena- |
tors say what they please about the |
bill. 1t is known to every person |
who has had opportunity to get sena- |
torial opinions on the measure that if |
each Democratic senator could have |
his way In the matter the bill on it's |
passage would look SO little like the
bill on its introduction that Mr.. I'm
derwood would pass it by unrecog-
nized. The measure probably, how
ever. win undergo no material altera- |
tons
Some changes will be made in the |
bill by the fslance committee of the |
senate. but If those which already |
have been suggested are a sample of |
those yet to be made 1t can be said |
That the measure from the low tariff |
mans point of view will be helped |
rather than injured by the changing
process. President Wilson has been
asked about some of the changes
which 1t is proposed by the finance
committee to make and he has agreed
This makes it certain that the varia.
tons will be equalizing in nature or
will make for lower rates. The presi-
dent seems to be complete master of
the situation in the senate.
Fitness the Test for Office.
Democratic senators and representa-
tives by force of an intimation which
amounts to an order from President
Wilson are undertaking the Diogenes
task with something added They are
trying to find men to recommend for
office ~ are not only honest but fit,
and al -.sSntly they are having a job
of Ii in s.~-le cases.
There is restiveness If not resent
ment evident among the Democratic
officials who think they ought to have
something coming to them in the way
of patronage with no sharp ques-
tons asked" They trudge the va
rious ways to the cabinet members
Offices day after day with the names