Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-11
MAY BE ACTED UPON EARLY
Advocates Claim It Would Not
Mean Sighting of Tariff.
SENATE READY FOR REVISION
Upper Chamber Held More Intent
Upon Radical Schedule Changes
Than House.

Yesterdays action of the democratic
steering committee of the Senate in Gre
atfng separate committee for consid-
Grafton of currency legislation. relieving
the finance committee of that duty, is be-
ing used by the advocates of currency
legislation by the extra session in sup
port Of their proposition They claim
that with the tariff to be handled by the
finance committee and currency reform
by another there is no merit in the argu-
ment that the entire attention of the ex-
ira session should be devoted to tariff leg
islation exclusively. as the tariff will not
be slighted.
Indeed, the men i'm both houses of Con-
gress who are earnest in their belief that
currency legislation is imperatively de-
manded for the near future have no pa
tience with the suggestion that the lime
light of public attention to the exclusion
of every other consideration must be
thrown upon the Senate in order to effect
tariff legislation.
Senate the More Progressive.
They say that with an extra session of
Congress called to consider the tariff;
with the President bent upon having inn
mediate action; with the party and plat
form back of it all. and moreover, with
the Senate unquestionably in control of
the very element most intent upon re-
vision. 1t seems incredible that any other
influence upon the Senate is necessary or
could be effective.
In point of fact, as affairs stand at
present. the Senate is more of a mind
for swift and radical tariff revision than
the House. Instead Of the Senate being
found in the old habit of holding back
In the traces Of conservatism, it may be
the other way and the House forced to
apply the brakes.
Penrose's Stand Marveled At.
Surely nothing has occurred in the re-
organization Of the Senate thus far to
indicate other than that the progress
sives' of that body are in the saddle.
They have ridden over the old guard Of
their own party roughshod and are in
every position of vantage. The republi-
cans even, are progressive. The spectacle
OF Boies Penrose OF Pennsylvania crying
for direct election of senators by the peo-
pie is one of the political wonders OF the
age and marveied at by all.
The democratic senator's resent 1.-The
suggestion emanating from House demo-
srats that 1t Will be necessary 10 put
the screws on the Senate and force
tariff action by focusing public atten-
tion to recalcitrant upper house. Pres
ident Wilson's rumored acquiescence in
the House suggestion accentuates the slap
at the Senate and leads some senators to
doubt that the President really has made
up his mind to sidetrack immediate cur
rency reform for the reason advanced.
No Criticism Of President.
However. there is no criticism of the
President on this score. as the general
understanding is that he is still of
open mind on the subject of the cur
rency. and may yet ask Congress to
take it up. Senators say that at any
rate IL he does withhold recommends
tion it will not be on the ground that
1t Is for the purpose Of concentrating
attention on the Senate's handling Of
the tariff bill.
Much will depend upon the demand
from the country for currency legis-
lation, and 1t will not require very
much insistence to bring 1t about. The
House is ready for it. the President
Is said to be fully convinced Of the
necessity. and only hesitating over the
time: the Senate is ready. and. when
all is said and done. 1T is only neces-
sary for the President to drop the hat.
say "go" and they are off.