The Washington times., 1913-03-13
SENATE WILL RULE
IN NEXT CONGRESS
Upper Body Will Have Final
Say in Forming Tariff and
Currency Legislation.

It is becoming more and more ap-
parent that the Senate is going to be
the great storm center Of Legislation
throughout the Wilson Administration.
The Senate, not the House, is going
to determine the form and substance OF
the big legislation which is enacted.
Upon all such legislation will be the
impress of Senate influence. The House
will stand in second place with respect
to the shaping Of all important laws.
Senate Gets Final Say.
The extra session Of Congress will
concern itself with the tariff and per-
haps. with currency. In any event, cur
rency legislation will have to be handled
not later than the regular session OF the
present Congress. And as to both these
matters, 1t will be the Senate, not the
House, which viii have the final say as
to what shall go on the statute books.
AS a matter Of fact, the Senate con-
tains the men who are best fitted by ex-
perience and training to shape tartn
and currency legislation. These men
include Republicans, as well as Demo-
Gratis, men Of progressive views as well
as conservatives. They include men who
have spent years in the consideration OF
such subjects as tarif and currency.
The House has some men who know
these subjects, but the proportion OF
them il small.
VIII Take No Dictation.
For the most part, in the House it will
be case Of following the leader. The
average member will do as he is told.
He u,sn know almost nothing about the
intricacies Of the tariff measures which
are put up to him to vote on or about
the inside Of currency legislation. Even
IL he does know about these things. he
will get no chance to make his knowf
edge felt. because the House rules are
and free consideration OF measures.
In the Senate, the situation is en-
tirely. different. For this, there Are
many reasons. In the first place, the
Senate rules preclude cloture in debate
Any Senator can talk as long as nj:
strength will permit. In the second
place, every Senator has saT about
the confirmation of appointments and
the ratification of treaties, and considers
himself about as much of factor ir
government as the President. He does
not purpose to be dictated to by any.
one, not even the President. The Senate
insists on taking its time on the i'm
portant questions of legislation thai
home before II and II refuses to be hur
ried. The more pressure is brought OF
ii from the House or the White Hous,
the more stubborn it Is apt to become.
Progressives to Weld influence.
Under such circumstances. while tn
consideration of the tariff bills and cur
rency question in the House will be Per
functory, in the Senate there will b
debates Of the first magnitude. Fac
tariff measure will be dissected thor
oughly, and there will be discussion
of the currency question, either in tn
extra session or later, which viii rang
over a broad field.
- The progressive Republican group II
the Senate, along with Senator Poin
dexter, Progressive party man, WI
have big influence both on tariff ant
currency legislation. In the tariH dis
cussions in recent years these men hay
proven themselves the best Informed
the most studious, and hence the mos
influential And they will be facto
of great moment in the extra session
When the tariff bills get through, the
will be found to have been influence
by this group of mea. and. when IN
currency measure becomes law TN
same will be found to be true