Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-07
CONGRESS IN SESSION
FOR TARIFF REVISION


the Dill as single measure, DuL the
President had agreed to thresh out
with the Senate leaders the merits of
the two plans and to base his final
opinion upon the circumstances pre-
Vailing In the Senate.
Senator Simmons and his Demo
cratic associates had made a canvass
Of the Senate since Saturday to deter
mine to what extent senators from
sugar and wool producing States
might combine to defeat the free wool
provision and the sugar schedule.
The final break between the sugar
senator's and the President Satur-
day has resulted in the incorporation
Of a rate of practically one cent per
pound Nthe new tariff bill, with q
provision for tree sugar in three
years
Wilson con the Fence"
Representative A. Mitchell Palmer,
of Pennsylvania, a member of the
House ways and means committee,
Joined the senators at the White
House for the conference.
President Wilson said he was ION
the fence" as to whether the tariff
should be revised schedule by sched-
ule or in a single bill Seven Demo-
cratic members OF the Senate finance
committee argued unanimously with
the President for a schedule by
schedule revision, but at Its conclu-
sion the President said he would still
further consider the matter before
reaching a decision.
The President had fairly made up
his mind that the single bill idea was
the more effective and believes that
such q measure could pass. He told
the Senators that he did not think
any Senators, voting against the BILL
would venture to bear the burden of
responsibility for defeating the party
program. 1t was suggested that the
Louisiana Senators would oppose the
bill, but the President, it is said, took
account of that loss, but figured that
the measure still would have enough
votes to pass
The Senators went away with the
impression that while the President
was still open to conviction, he was
inclined somewhat to the single tariff
bill.
The entire question must be decid
cd, as far as the Presidents wishes
are concerned, before the Democratic
caucus meets tomorrow.
Representative A. Mitchell Palmer,
of Pennsylvania, chairman of the
caucus, sought the Presidents opinion
as to whether the caucus tomorrow
should be open.
II have always been in favor of
the open caucus said the President.
Democrats In the Saddle.
d For the first time In eighteen years
Congress assemblies with both its
branches under control Of the Demo-
Gratis and with Democratic Presi-
dent to cooperate in shaping it's poll
cies and to approve its acts. The tariff
law to be passed by the special ses-
sion that opens today will be the
first general Democratic revision of
the revenue laws since the act of
August q. 1894, known to history as
the "Wilson- German law and which
President Cleveland allowed to be-
come law without his signature.
Scores of familiar faces were absent
in both houses. In the House, the
complete change in the seating ar
rangements had made even old mem
bers strangers to the scene. In place
of the mahogany desks and swivel
chairs to which members had slung
for many years, stiff rows of leather
upholstered benches, arranged in
semi circles, filled the House chamber.
The new bench system, somewhat
similar to that Of the British House
of Commons, gives no desk space at
which members can write or work
while In the House chamber.
New members dominate the larger
House in the view Congress. The In
crease of the membership Of the
House from 396 TO 435, which became
effective March 4, brought in a larger
proportion of new members than have
appeared in any Congress OF recent
years. and made more conspicuous
the absence of old-time leaders, such
az former Speaker Cannon, John Dali
zell. of Pennsylvania; Nicholas Long
worth. of Ohio: Samuel w. Mccall. of
Massachusetts; &c. j. Hill, of Connec-
ticut. and William B. Mckinley, of
Illinois.
The work before Congress today
consisted chiefly of organization bust
ness. The Senate had completed its
organization early In March, during
the special session called to act on
President Wilson's appointments;
president Marshall served his
early apprenticeship as a presiding
officer, and the Democratic leaders
took charge of the Senate, elected
officers and chose committees at that
session, and were prepared for general
legislative work today. The organi-
cation of the House was expected to
consume all of today's session of that
body.
The Presidents Message.
President Wilson will read his mes
sage to both houses after the begin
ming of the session tomorrow. In his
call summoning the extraordinary
session OF Congress. the President
did not specify the purpose for which
it was to be convened. Members OF
Congress who had talked with the
executive expected that the message
prepared to greet the new Congress
would urge action upon the tariff as
the first duty of the Democratic ma
jorities in the two houses; but would
leave the way open for action on the
currency and other pressing matters,
if 1t is decided later to take them up.
Democratic majorities in both
House and Senate care considered
strong enough to carry through the
program of tariff revision determined
upon by recent conferences, in which
the President has consulted with
Representative Underwood and Sena-
tor Simmons, the tariff leaders of the
two bodies. The Democrats have a
majority of more than 140 in the
IIonse their rnem hership of 2SS being