Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-06-11
DEMOCRAT SENATE CAUCUS ON
TARIFF MEASURE BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS.
RoBs DEBATE OF INTEREST
Only Two or Three Senators of Ruling
Party VIII Voice Their Objections
In Public-MateriaI Changes Will
Be Few.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

binding the members to support 1t 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
the Progressives and later the he
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
support except for that of two or
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, il 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.
If there were several Senator Dol
livers in the present senate interest
might hold it's own in the coming tar
if debate even if it is the third or
Gov vrfI re hidfnpV
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
will 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
be holds party authority. The two
upon to say some things not entirely
sweet about sugar, and it 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 a
request to put it through expedi-
tiously.
Certain dispatches recently had 1t
that Senator Owen of Oklahoma in
tended to introduce e. 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 It Is not likely, 1t Is
said, that the Oklahon1an 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 its
passage would look SO little like the
bill on it's introduction that Mr.. I'm
derwood would pass it by unrecog-
nized The measure probably, how
ever, will undergo no material altera-
tions.
Some changes will be made in the
bill by the finance committee of the
senate, but If those which already
have been suggested are sample of
those yet to be made it 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 it Is proposed by the finance
committee to make and he has agreed
This makes it certain that the varia-
lions 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 who are not only honest but fit,
and apparently they are having a job
of it in some cases.
There is restiveness IL 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-
lions asked" They trudge the va
rious ways to the cabinet members