The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-02
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HOLD 4
CONFERENCE, BUT DECIDE ON
NO Definite PROGRAM.
BUSY TIMES ARE AHEAD
Tariff Will Occupy Time Not Taken Up
by Legislation, Investigations and
the Archibald mpeachment-Party
Organization Is Bothsrsome-Taf
Appointments Opposed.

Washington, Jan, 1.-Representativ
Underwood and Senator Martin, demo-
cratic leaders, respectively, OF the
house and senate, conferred over plans
for tariff revision and for legislative
work during the rest of the short ses-
sion that reopens tomorrow. No defi-
mite plan of action was agreed on, but
the democratic leaders discussed IN
detail President elect Wilson's tariff
views as outlined to Mr.. Underwood at
Trenton yesterday.
Both houses will confront crowded
programs when they reconvene at noon
tomorrow. Into the congestion Of legis-
lation, investigation hearings and the
Archibald Impeachment proceedings,
the democratic forces will begin dur
ing the next few weeks the full scope
of tariff revision, preparation and
party organization.
Representative Underwood has not
discussed publicly the details of his
conference with President -elect Will
son, but it is known the general plan
of tariff revision was gone over.
The tariff hearings will begin next
Monday and the mail received from
manufacturers, commercial organiza-
tions and consumers indicates a wide
spread interest in the wooden, chemical
and iron and steel schedules
Appropriation Bills.
At the democratic conference today
it was agreed that the appropriation
bills had made such progress that
there probably would be no difficulty
in passing all of them before adjourn
ment. The problem connected with
the confirmation of President Taft's
appointment will be taken up in the
senate soon and majority of the SEN
ators expect that a solution will be
found that will allow at least some Of
the appointments now pending to be
acted on.
AS a rule democratic senators ex-
press the opinion that comparatively
few of the presidents appointments
should receive confirmation, but there
are appreciable breaks in the ranks.
A growing number of democrats favor
a discriminatory system that would
permit confirmation of many of the ap-
pointments.
A fight is being directed against the
new industrial commission, the nine
members Of which We're appointed a
few weeks ago by President Taft, AL
though senatorial courtesy would
ordinarily bring about the speedy con-
frmation of Senator .Sutherland's ep
pointment as chairman, democratic
leaders are fighting all the appoint
ments on the ground that the new
commissions investigation of indus
trial conditions will run through two
or three years of President Wilson'S
term.
Should President Taft send in the
appointment of Colonel George w.
Goethals as governor of the Panama
canal zone, under the new law, it also
undoubtedly will meet with demo-
cratic opposition. Many prominent
democrats favor the sanction OF Col
onel Goethals, however, and would
work for his confirmation.
Chief interest in the senate tomor
row is expected to center about San :
ator Bailey's speech against the initi-
ative and referendum, a speech that is
considered his "farewell' to the SEN
| ate.