Evening star., 1924-01-13

mittee prepared the changes which
will come to vote tomorrow, voiced
similar opinions.
No Pact, Says Garrett.
Mr.. Garrett said that the democrats
petitions would be sought. The
figure, he added. might range from
100, favored by the insurgents. to 125.
The Underwood rule. which both
the democrats and Insurgents want
repealed. applies TO tariff and revenue
bills. 1t restricts amendments by
providing that they must apply to
the article under consideration, and
has been construed to prevent the
transfer of commodity from the
free to the dutiable list, or vice versa,
in tariff bills.
Mr.. Nelson declared the rules
committee had failed to act on
number of important rules amend
and that they would make a deter
mined fight on the floor to secure
their adoption.
The way has been cleared for un-
limited debate on the entire ques-
ton, leaders having agreed to defer
action on all Legislation until II is
disposed Of. The subject comes to
a head as result of the adoption
by the House after it organized of
the rules prevailing during the last
congress-, DuI With Ine
ing that they were to be in effect
for one month only. The month ex-
p!res tomorrow.
Far-Reaching Effects.
Harking back to the Senate, the
contest over the interstate commerce
craftsmanship, resulting in the cleo
ton of a democratic chairman, ap-
pears to have more far-reaching ef-
fects than was dreamed of by the
regular republicans. 1t has set
precedent, as some OF the republicans
from the middle west and far west
feared it might, for continued joint
action by the democrats and pro-
gTessives on measures coming before
the Senate.
When the Senate was voting on the
Craftsmanship of the interstate COM
MERGE committee, the regular repub-
lican group edly declined to
accept the proposal that Senator Cou-
zens of Michigan. who had been vot-
ing regularly for Senator Cummins OF
Iowa, the republican nominee, be
elected chairman The Old Guard
! dies. it never surrenders," was the
comment of one progressive, who
added that some vacancies may be
found in the ranks after the cleo
tionS next November
The democrats We're not anxious to
elect a chairman of the interstate COM
merce committee, hut they have not
( been slow to observe the tactical ad-
vantage which has arisen through the
coalition of the progressives with them
! in that vote. The stand maintained by
the democrats and the progressives on
the tax legislation has been quite SINH
lar. The two groups think alike TO
considerable extent on transportation
Legislation. it is said, and on other
measures.
In the House the republican lead
ership has taken cogniZance of the
progressive element; 1t has made
such concessions as We're necessary to
bring about the republican organiZa-
tfon of the House, so far as officers
and standing committees are con-
cerned When the tax bill IS framed
in that body 1t may be expected that
the republican leaders viii yield TO
just that extent which may be neces-
sary to make it possible to obtain a
majority for the passage of the bill
by republican votes.
But when the measure reaches the
Senate there is no precedent of agree
ment-in this COngreSS-betWeen the
republicans and the progressive ele-
ment on contested questions. Pre-
diction is made that the progressive
group and the democrats will take an
aggressive stand from the start on
this measure and do all in their power
to have it framed to meet their views
At one time IL was believed that there
would be sufficient democrats in favor
or the Mellon plan to onset deleCtlonS
from republican ranks. But in the
fight over the chairmanship of the
interstate commerce committee but
one democrat, Senator Bruce of Mary
land, left his party associates to vote
with the regular republicans. There
was much criticism of his action, so
much so that 1t is doubtful that an
appreciable number of democrats
would join with the regular repub-
licans on contested measures to come
before the Senate.
Bonus May he Amendment.
The tax bill situation promises to
be further complicated in the Senate
by a move to have the soldiers bonus
tors supporting the bonus say that if
the House sends the tax bill over to
the Senate first, they Will propose
the bonus bill as an amendment, and
they say that they can bring about
a combination of the two.
That such combination would be
embarrassing to the President. who
has announced his opposition to the
soldiers bonus may be understood.
1t might we'll be the better policy to
dispose of the bonus measure first,
it was pointed out
When it comes to railroad leg
islation. the alignments in the Sem
ate may be somewhat different, but
there is strong sentiment among the
ives from the west and middle west
for a reduction in freight rates, par
ticularly on agricultural products. In
this the democrats agree to very
large extent. Senator Smith, the
newly elected chairman of the COM
mittee which will handle the railroad
legislation. has clearly said as much.