The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-04-22

men like Cummins, B0rah and others,
are moderate tariff revisionists and II
IL not nkely that they would stand
with the old line Republicans In oppo-
sition u those provisions OF the new
bill which make only moderate cuts
in some OF the schedules.
Old Timers In Doubt.
The senate Republicans Of the old
school DO not know whether or not to
sit back and let the tariff bill go
through without much protest. II they
can get the support of the progress
sives OF their party they may be will
Ing TO make q stand and to protest vir-
tually against every provision In the
bill, but otherwise they may elect to
allow the measure to 60 through with
out much debate and thea trust to the
lowered rates to bring destruction to
the Democratic party
Some time ago, even before the new
Democratic tariff bill was under dis
cussion by the house ways and means
committee, some Of the high protec-
ton Republicans In the senate said
publicly that It would be better for
the party not to enter any vigorous
protest against the passage Of the
bill, but simply TO allow II TO 20
through with an extremely limited
amount OF opposition debate, and to
make . few speeches saying that the
bill would be disastrous - the coun-
try. and then to sit back, let the meas
ure 30 through and trust the result
to God and the ultimate consumer"
Now 1t may be that . change of
mind will come to the old line Repub-
licans. II is certain to come II the
progressives Of their party will join
with them in a program of assault
upon all the provisions Of the bill.
The old line Republicans, however,
say they do not believe 1t would do the
future Of their party any good II the
Progresslves were to join with them in
their attacks on parts of the Demo
cratic measure and to Join with the
Democrats In the defense of other
parts of 1t. The high protection Re
publicans say that such q course sim
ply would accentrate- the difference OF
tariff opinion in their party.
May Be Little Opposition.
SO it may be that the tariff bill as
framed by the Democrats will 60
through the senate without much Re
publican opposition. but it is possible
that IL the Republicans find there are
enough Democrats willing to join them
in opposition to the cut in the sugar
and wool rates they may agree TO en-.
ter the fight even though the progress
sives of their party will not 60 along
with them wholeheartedly.
AS has been intimated, President
Wilson himself is still In the twilight
zone ON the subject Of the outcome in
the senate on tariff legislation as pro
posed by the bill which has been in
troduced into the house. No president
ever has been able to know definitely
in advance What the senators were
going to do.
President Wilson seemingly Is OPP
timistic even while he does not see
his way yet perfectly clear to com
plete success for his tariff measure
In congress. The friends Of the ad-
ministration declare that the president
thinks all the Democratic senators
eventually will be brought into line
and that the bill which win go through
will bear 30 few marks Of compro-
mise that it rightly can be called an
administration measure and Baltk
more platform measure. The progress
sive Democrats in the senate are doing
everything which they can TO bring
their higher protection brethren into
line on sugar. lumber and wool. II
they succeed 1t will make little differ
ence probably what the Republicans
do, for the Democrats have a solid
majority OF six In the upper house and
this is as good as il It were six hun
dred.
May Fine Absentees.
Unless the members OF the new con
gress are more regular in attendance
at the sessions than were the members
Of the last congress It is the intention
Of the leaders to adopt rules for the
first time In the history of the govern
ment which shall compel the presence
Of members at the sessions. and com
pel' 10 the word the leaders are using
when they speak Of the projected reg
ulation.
Bluntly, it 10 the plan to propose
and to secure the adoption of rule
under which heavy" fines shall be In
fiicted on representatives in congress
who absent themselves from the legis-
lative chamber without adequate ex-
cuse at times when their presence not
only is needed but 1t merely desirable
II must be understood that this at.
tendance matter hh nothing to do
with politics nor with parties. and in
discussing II the leaders of the three
political organizations In the house
confer together and In entire sympa-
thy. They all seem to deplore the
growing habit of absenteeism. The
records OF the last three congresses
are records of extraordinary difiicul-
ties at the times when the effort has
been to get a quorum when impor-
tant measures have been up and upon
which free discussion and full vote
were deemed essential not only TO the
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