Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-05-21
TARIFF DEBATES
GROW STORMY
PROSPECTS GOOD FOR THE USUAL
SLOW, DRAWN OUT PROCESSES
PECULIAR TO TINE SENATE.
PROTETIONISTS BUSY
BESIEGE DOORS OF COMMITTEE
ROOMS EXPLAINING DISASTER
THAT LIES IN MEDDLING WITH
FAVORED PRODUCT.
Especial STAFF Correspondent

RPOItus btuU ITCSpOUuCHt.
Washington, May 2l.-The American
congress is projecting itself into the sui
try summe with merry wranglings.
There have gone glimmering all the fond
prospects of quick tariff action at the
North end of the capital. Eager, young
chrOniclers, who, but a short time agO.
were sending the Underwood bill to the
president and %adjOurning congress by
the middle of June, are now glibly es-
saying other topics. AS to a tariff con
gress, it is the sam old story and the
senate is going about it's revision i'm
about the same old way.
Manufacturers CROWD the city. They
r0sst in the senate galleries, while re-
publican orators fume and storm and
democratic orators stand forth in re-
joihder. When senator's adjourn the
manufacturers dog their footsteps.
Away 60 the speakers after more protec-
ton to those doors which open upon
the subcommittee of finance. And into.
patient ears are poured stories of what
will be if rates be not hOisted.
1t is a weary process for all con
cerned, Up from Washington goes a ire
mendOns tariff ~hullabaloo whenever re-
vision is undertaken. In its tout en-
semble traiff has popular interest. But
there is no dryer subject of legislation
in its details. Letters and kilograms are
piled high every morning on the desks of
senator's from manufacturing states and
agricultural states. These are scanned
~languidly and turned over to secretaries
and stenOgraphers, who, literally by
scores, daily whang away at the type
writing machines, grinding out ack-
nOwledgements and replies. These are
stock forms for most of these franked
foInmuicatiOns that 60 out by thousands
and tens of thousands from the senate
p%Ostofice in the evening mails.
There are kernels of wheat however.
Here and there is a tariff letter put
aside from the big bunch. 1t goes back
to the senator's desk or into his special
file and will be utilized i'm some way
later on. There will be slight opportun-
ity in the Finance committee. Many met
ings of that revising authority here will
be, but the doors will be shut to repub.
licans till the very last. And when the
cards Of notice are sent out it will only
he a formal meeting. But there is repub-
lican eagerness for material which will
work iptO speeches The word and
phrase making factories are already
busy. II. anticipation of the great debate.
Clerks care searching the musty files.
boring over Congressional Record and
pride in discoveries that may keep a
swelterfng senate from doing by and
bye Is dominant.
The demnition grind is but begun.
Pity the poor democratic senator's. who
must construct and defend. Such tasks
are of greater magnitude i'm the senate
than in the house. Men must be well
to withstand the onslaushts Of
such a republican minority as there is in
the senate.
President Wilson's grasp of the situa-
ton is apparently is not relaxing. Men
been saying for some weeks that
there would ZONE a weakening. They
have watched for it, because strong.
wire leadership goes far toward parti-
san success i'm federal affairs. The fair
weather, which endured so bountifullv
during the presidents first two months
has ceased. The critics are no lonocr
withholding. Missiles fly -unsp>rinolv
Associations and organizations OF divers
characters have not been content to