The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-03-20
SENATE HAS Low
| TARIFF ELEMENT
Finance Committee Favors Re-
duCtiCn.
LIKELY TO SUPPORT HOUSE.

Upper Body Expected to Meet Revision
Details Put Up to 1t, Except Possibly
on Matter of Sugar-Tkis Product
May Be Subjected to a Duty, Is Be-
lief-To Extend Free List.
BY ARTHUR ". DUNN.
Washington, March 20.-ISpecial.l j
The finance committee of the senate
is low tariff body as organized. II
there was any possibility of that COM
mittee standing in the way of as rad
lcal revision of the tariff as the house
offers it has been dispelled by the per-
sonnet of the committee Though
Chairman Simmons has not been re-
garled as low tariff man, it Is doubt
full if he will stand in the way of re-
auctions made by the house
The other members of the commit
tee-Stone, Missouri; Williams. Mis-
sissippi; Shively. Indiana; Johnson,
Maine; Gore. Oklahoma; Hoke Smith,
Georgia: Thomas. Colorado; James,
Kentucky, and Hughes, New Jersey
are all low tariff advocates. These
men, including the chairman. voted
for the Democratic tariff bills in the
last session, Thomas excepted. as he
was not a member OF the senate or
house at the time
There seems to be no question that
the senate will meet the house reduc-
lions. save perhaps on sugar. II there
is free sugar bill sent to the senate
It may be changed and duty levied.
Reductions Are Sure.
Though the members of the house
committee on ways and means are
keeping very quiet about their work,
enough has leaked out TO indicate that
the reductions will be greater than in
the bills passed two years ago. There
was a suggestion that the La Toilette
bill on wool might have been taken.
but that idea has been abandoned, and
the Underwood bill is to be the basis.
It is also apparent that the free list
is to be extended considerably. and 1t
may be that those articles which en-
ter into food products will be made
free in order to reduce the high cost
Of living. AS yet there is no indfca-
ton Of a free raw material policy, but
the duties on such materials will be
greatly reduced.
Defying the Courts.
Probably nowhere in the country has
there been so much preaching about
obedience to lawful authority as en-
bodied in court DEGREES as in the Unit
ed States senate, but when the courts
undertake to reach senator and in
sist that he shall produce papers and
give evidence the senate bristles with
indignation and defies the jurisdiction
Of the courts.
And why not? The courts are the
creation of congress. and who are they
to tell senators and representatives
what they shall do? Every court that
has undertaken to compel something
from the senate has run against stone
wall of resistance.
Must Fool the People.
1T is not pleasant for an honest man
to attempt to deceive" said Congress
man Tilson of Connecticut in a belat-
ed edition of the Congressional Rec
ord, "even if for the purpose of max
ing the folks at home think you are
the greatest man in the house next to
the speaker, and yet it must be done
II you are to tarry here. EverybOdy's
doing it,
He went on to say that friendly no.
hces by newspaper men and other
boosts of that kind had much to do
with establishing the reputation Of con-
gressmen. And it is a fact that some
Of the best advertisers stay longer
than those who ignore publicity.
slayden Didn't Like It.
At recent dinner of army and navy
men Congressman Slayden was dis
tinguished guest. Slayden is a mighty
good friend of the army. but he wants
to get rid of the Philippines at the
earliest possible moment. so when one
speaker after another kept saying
keep the Philippines" and calling
those who wanted to get rid of them
mollycoddles it grated on the nerves
Of the Texan. 1t was rather curious
that, although there were dozen men
present Of Slayden's way of thinking.
none Of them was called on and so
did not have an opportunity to Civ
their side. Slayden might he willing
to trade the Philippines for a portion
# Mexico
Large Supreme Court.
1t is not to be expected that congress
Will take up the question of charging
the supreme court unless better rea-
sons for doing so are presented than
have thus far been Forthcoming. En-
larging the highest court is a serious
undertaking. In the first place it is to
be expected that the court will oppose
such move. and it is also believed
that many lawyers in the senate will
object to increasing the number Of
Justices.
The object to be attained in enlarg-
Ing the court Is to have more justices
to consider the cases that are brought
before it. But in reaching proper So
luton of cases 1t is necessary that all
Justices should know the facts, and the
only object to be gained by an increase
would be to have additional Justices to
help write the opinions.