The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-01-24

i
congress apparently who can say that
he knows one man who is certain to
be appointed to high office by the in
coming Democratic president
Ever since Mr.. Wilson came back
from Bermuda the Democratic leaders
have been comforting with him.
The trains between Washington and
Trenton have been heavy laden with
passengers OF national prominence go
ing to the source of knowledge, to
come back again with very little
knowledge about the things of great
est personal interest Mr. Wilson, the
returning Democratic leaders admit.
Is not of mind to commit himself In
any way definitely upon the subject of
the composition of his cabinet until
he is certain that he has weighed all
the recommendation and all the OBJ
jections and has found out to the
nisety of fraction all that he wants
to know about the men whom he
would like to invite to membership in
his official family.
1t must not be understood from
this that Mr. Wilson has declined to
talk freely with the Democratic lead
ers. He has had and is having con-
ferences lasting for several hours with
the men of greater prominence in his
party. 1t is known definitely in
Washington, however, that nine
tenths of the time consumed at the
conference is given over to the dis
cussion of policies rather than men.
Mr.. Wilson is anxious to learn from
the men of his party of long expert
ence in congress just what chance leg
islation which he may propose has
of being enacted into law.
Expects Antagonlsm in Senate.
The president-elect has a keen ap-
probation of the fact that the Dem
ocratic membership in the senate is
an uncertain quantity in certain mat
tiers of party policy. He knows that
there are ultra-conservative Demo-
Gratis in the senate whom their more
progressive. or radical If you will,
brethren go so far as to call Repub-
licans with little veneer Of Democ-
racy. 1t is known from what the lead
ers say that Mr.. Wilson fears that
some of his policies upon which he
will make strongly progressive recon-
mendations are not to the liking, in
their outlined form, of some of the
Democrats in the senate. So it is
that Mr.. Wilson is anxious to learn in
advance from the members Of his
party just how much antagonism he
may expect in the senate, and what
If anything he must concede in order
to insure united Democratic support
of such legislation as he may pro-
pose.
There is some fear, it is known, on
Mr., Wilson's part, that the Democrats
In the senate will decline to sanction
tariff revision in the form of some of
the provisions which will be put into
the bill by the house of representa-
tives which, under the constitution,
must initiate all tariff legislation.
Must Travel Old Road.
Representative Oscar w. Under.
wood, chairman, and his fellow mem.
bers OF the ways and means COM
mlttee, are about to begin the hear.
ings which always come as a pre-.
lude to the passage Of new tariff legis.
latton. The road which stretches be.
fore the chairman and his fellows is
much travelled one. The Republic.
uncontrolled ways and means com.
mittee went over it at the extra ses.
sion called by Mr.. Taft In 1909. A
Democratic-controlled ways and
means committee went over It in
part when reciprocity was under con.
sideration; then the same committee
went over 1t again at the last session
OF congress, and now the ways and
means members stand at the tape
ready for the signal to begin the
march once more.
Cynical laymen in Washington say
that If the committee hears anything
new on the tariff question during the
coming weeks of patient or impa.
tient attention to the arguments of
importers and manufacturers, it will
be one of the miracles of chance.
The printed public reports of the tar
if hearings during the last four
years make many volumes. Every
subject from acetanelid to zinc has
been exploited for all that was in 1t
to bolster up the cause of either
standpatism or downward revision.
Cuts May Not Be Very Deep.
1t seems to be the belief of most
students of legislation, and of the
political trend, as it will affect legis.
lation, that the tariff bills, which will
be passed by congress controlled
by the Democrats and signed by a
Democratic president will not repre-
sent "a cut to the bone policy" II
seems likely that the measures
which finally will come out of con.
gress will be considerably above a
free basis. Democratic leaders have
said that they do not want to do any
thing which will upset business. or as
some of them put 1t, which will give
business a chance Ito upset itself"
The ways and means committee will
report downward revision tariff bills,
hut inst how deem the c11ts will on