New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04


sohdiy back OF the President. Grad
ually discomfort grew into open rebel
lion. and in the closing days the major
ity divided, and the Republicans, aided
by this division, GG.ned their first i'm
portant triumph by defeating the ship
purchase bill.
Senate Storm Centres.
Storm centres in the Senate have
been the tariff bill, including the in
come tax law; the currency bill, anti
trust legislation and the ship purchase
bill In the chronicle of the struggles
over these measures is set forth the
gradual weakening of the Presidents
control over Congress, by far the most
striking feature of the first two years
Of his administration. Republicans have
gained while Democrats have lost.
Progressive Republicans have gone far
in the way Of burying their differences
with regular Republicans, and the
breach that existed at the beginning OF
the session has narrowed down to
small crevice.
In the fight over the tariff bill the
Democratic majority in the Senate,
marching at the command of the Presl-
dent, gained an easy triumph. Regular
Republicans displayed opposition, but
il was frutless in the face Of the de-
termination of the majority TO stand
or fall together rs a party. The DIS
satisfaction Of some Democrats over
the free wool and free sugar schedules
seemed to be a passing cloud.
The course of the currency bill was
less smooth. After it had been put
through the House il found rocky
road in the Senate. Democrats as well
as Republicans refused to pass II with
out extended hearings, and there were
times when il seemed that the majority
Senators would revolt. In spite OF
caucus rule, which had been invoked
also for the tariff bill, the strong Re
publican opposition, aided by dissatis-
faction on the Democratic side, brought
about amendment Of the measure. IL
was passed after a long struggle In a
much different form than it was at
first proposed by the President and his
lieutenants, but II passed, and the
Pres dent was still supreme
Fighting over the trust bills was less
acute. mainly because the President
did not insist on their enactment IN
the precise form In which th"y had at
first been drafted. Recalcltrancy APP
reared. however, and only two Of the
three measures the Clayton and trade
commission bills-were passed. The
railroad securities bill was pigeon
holed.
There was further trouble over the
Panama Canal tolls repeal bill, which
was considered in a non-partisan spirit,
but which left its effect on the prestige
Of the administration. Patronage
troubles broke out, and recess appoint
ments made during the last recess were
turned down by angry Democrats, who
stood shoulder 10 shoulder against the
White House.
With the Senate in this mood the
President laid down his legislative pro-
gramme for the final session OF Con-
cress He demanded passage by the
Senate OF the Philippines, ship pur-
chase and conservation or water power
bills. The Senate set out dehantly to
pass the immigration bill, which the
Presiden' vetoed. II then took up the
ship purchase bill, which was defeated
by the Republican hlibuster and the
Democratic revolt. The Philippines
and water power bills were buried
with other legislative debris.
Closing days of the session saw the
"new freedom" az applied to Congress
Democrats were openly defying the
White House The administration fol-
lowers were attacked for trying to jam
through the Senate III considered legis-
lation under spur OF caucus rule with
out debate and deliberation. The
minority, on the other hand, display
ing unusual harmony, was bombarding
the administration record and assert
ing that the tariff bill had failed,
ncraseitating enactment % ''' r"-
called war revenue bill; promise OF
economy had failed, and .ha- anti
trust agitation and regulation had led
business to the brink OF disaster.
The House tonight finally passed
the AGRICULTURAL bill, with the rural
credits amendment stricken out. In
stead. a commission Of three Senators
and three Congres smen was Apo nted
10 consider the question.
The Senate passed the Indian APP
rropriation bill and confirmed four out
Of five Of the Presidents nominations
for the Federal Trade Commission.
The substitute rivers and harbors
bill. appropriating 100000 900, was ap-
proved. after a brief spec Oh by Senator
Burton in the nature Of valedlctory
marking his retirement from the SEN
a.e. The omnibus claims bill, carrying
approximately 80 100000 for the pay
mpnt of war claims in the South, was
rushed through The conference re-
port on the naval appropriation bill
was adopted, after a short but pointed
donurciation by Senator Root of the
methods that have been followed in
rushing through legislation in the
~uisc Of riders 10 the appropriation
bills at the eleventh hour, when weeks
had been wasted in the endeavor 70
pass the ship purchase bill.