The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-27
Battle Against Emergency Bill
Is Opened in Senate.
Hitchcock Warns That Other
Nations VIII Retaiiate.
BIG FIlLIBUSTER is PLANNED
Wilson's Veto on War Finance
Resolution Expected.
Only Minor Bills Being COnsid-
cred in the House.

Washington, Dec. 2T.-By q vote
of 33 to II, the senate today tabled
the motion of Senator Hitchcock to
refer the emergency tariff bill to the
senate commerce committee instead OF
the finance committee.
The vote. which was a complete vic
tory for the friends OF the bill, came
after nearly two hours debate
Immediately after IL was taken,
Senator Harrison. Mississippi. con-
tinued the opposition by moving to
send the bill to the interstate conn
merce committee Harrison's motion
was made to give opponents Of the
measure a chance to talk further. bur
with no hope of being able to prevent
reference of the bill to the finance
committee.
Six Democrats voted for the bill.
They were Ashurst, Beckham. Hem
derson, Kenrick, Pomerene and Shep-
pard of Texas.
Senator Hitchcock today opened ths
Democratic fight on the emergency
tariff bill in the senate by moving that
it be referred to the commerce COM
mittee instead of the finance COM
mittee.
Hitchcock declared the bill was an
embargo measure and not a revenUe
act. and that it therefore should go
the commerce committee, having
charge of matters pertaining to for
eign commerce.
He warned the senate against put
ting up a wall now against foreign
| imports, predicting that other nations
would retaliate in kind
Instead of helping American busi-
ness, an embargo now would ruin II by
preventing foreign business men from
paying for goods bought here in the
| only way they now can pay for them
thru exports Of their own goods. he
said.
When the tariff bill was brought up
| today, one of the Democratic sena-
! tors was expected to make point OF
no quorum in the expectation that not
enough senators have returned to
Washington from their holiday recess
to allow the Senate to proceed with its
other means of delay will be inter
posed.
70 Insure Quorum.
Friends of the tariff declaring Il
necessary to aid the farmers. have
made efforts to have enough senators
| present so that the measure can be
| referred to the finance committee. the
| first, step in getting thru the senate
! Opponents of special legislation for
| the farmers meanwhile were confiden.
that President Wilson would join their
ranks today or tomorrow with a veto
\ of the resolution reviying the war fl
nance corporation.
Minor Measures In House.
The house, which meets today, IL
expected to stay in session up to New
! Years day proceeding with minor bills
and some appropriation measures II
they can be reported by the approprt-
ations committee.
The senate is expected to stay In
session untn Thursday and then ad-
journ over New Years
| Investigations now being conducted
by both house and senate committees
are generally expected to go over IN
| til after New Years day.
The investigation into the coal and
| housing situation will resume this
week, however. Hearings are TO be
| held during the week on the bill re-
apportioning the house according TO
the new census A hearing on the bill
1 to open the naval wireless to pres
] messages is to be held after the hOi-
! days.