The midland journal., 1913-05-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.

now out in the open. The House Of Re-
has the Underwood bill.
About ell that remains for the Admins
lration to do is to pass that bill and send
citation of the legislation from many
quarters. Manufacturers say ii is bad.
that it will hurt industry. that it will also
hurt The Democratic Party Perhaps it
will, but Democrats are headed for tariff
action They may pay little heed TO
protests, but the f.ct remains that they
propose to pass the Underwood bill II
is 10 become law.
Republicans are IN no position to op-
pose The House Kepn 'slieans. as q
matter of fact, are ip sorry plight.
They are weak aud divided minority,
unable TO fashion any coherent program.
AS an example, they have heen fighting
themselves as to whether they
should present a substitute tariff bill !.
The caucus OF House Republicans in-
structed them to make such substitute.
II almost directed that the substitute for
the cotton schedule aud WOODEN schedule
should be bills drawn by ex Chairman
Pavne, of the Ways and Means Com.
lnittee, and !. bN former Representative
Ebenezer j. Hill. of Connecticut This
was prevented at the very last moment.
Democrats are enjoy Dg this emharrass
ment of their Republican hrethern.
Their orators are tuning up. They are
up their old arguments. and
there is to be attack and defense IN foe
old fray One thing is sure, which is
sha, the bill will become law There
will be test, then, as TO who has been,
correct about the effect of the legislation.
Meanwhile the Senate is just waking
up to tariff. The old codgers have been
nodding in their corners. Untilthe tariff
bill was out in the open Of the House
there Was little Senators could do by way
Of conference aud understanding. But
all those things are beginning now in the
Sena E. Unoficially Democratic Sena
tors are getting up to their ears on tariff.
and making ready 10 hurry the bill along
as soon as it reaches them.
~
There is great curiousity as to how a
session Of Congress so remarks ably begun
will conclude, That the Underwood
tariff bill win become law, substantially
in its present form. there is little doubt.
It is equally clear that the Senate will SO
nearly coincide with the House as to
eliminate virtually the period conference
which ordinarily at revision session en-
durss the best part of month An inn
portant factor will be the debate. Many
an old-time argument must probably be
spoken again, in attack and defense,
making up the record in the same old
political way in the hope (as far as Re-
pubiicaps are concerned) that things will
reall, 90 to the bowwows under the new
tariff Thereupon it will all be in print
how hey wers right And should things
go 10 the bowMows following the tariff
enactment it will probably be lha, Demo
Gratis will gosoat of power expeii,ionsly,
aud he vely long time returning.
So decidedly is the President having
his way that il becomes question
whether The tariff battle in the Senate
Qorg looked upon as an affair Of
heavy guns in ac,ion) will not lose i'm
poriance The country nanifests little
interest in affairs at Washing. on. where
the eienientsiof uncertainty anL conten-
tion are rapidly disappearing.
~
II should be as easy TO get currency
reform bill thru this session OF Congress
as i, has heen to whip tariff bill into
legislative prospects so wonderful.
Even Republicans. say the President il
sound on financial points. They think
he will never sanction a wild financial
measure. II is another thing 10 get the
House to epaci il. 10 persuade loquac-
ious Senate TO approve. But one need
not bs SO sure that the President is unable
to do this He can If the country con-
tinuvs to give him its confidence. and
probably the country will. Members Of
Congress want TO stand in with that kind
of President
II is not quite clear yet no ' the Adj
ministration is coming out with the Japan
ese troubles The little Japs are tremen-
deuslv aroused at the suggestion of shut-
tlng them from the ownership Of land 10
California There is war talk from
Toky An excitab'e and irresponsible
portion of the population is demaudiug
shn ia anese warships make demon.
s,ra,ion in front Of San Francisco. There
are even whispers about takiug the Phil