LEGISLATORS AT PLAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15002, 25 May 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

LEGISLATORS AT PLAY.

TARIFF DEBATE ON CATS.

The American political landslide of November, 1910 t swept no fewer than 129 new members into Congress, and these "baby" legislators (members serving their first term) thought it should be celebrated in some way, so they arranged a dinner. The banquet, the first of its kind ever given in Washington, was'held at the fashionable Rauscker's Restaurant, and party lines were forgotten while the legislators joyously burlesqued the methods of the House and the personalities of the officials and older members. The feature of the evening was a mock Tariff debate Representative William C. Redfield, of New York, "introduced a Bill" placing a duty of 4s 2d on "all cats, and parts of cats, whether wild, pole, or domestic in type, brought into this country or its possessions." The Bill also provided for an additional duty on Maltese cats of Is Bd. per pound of malt contained in each cat fins measure Mr. Redfield solemnlv declared was necessary for the protection of the American cat industry, which was being ruined by free imports. Representative Frank Willis of Ohio waved the Democratic banner of Free Trade, and denounced Mr. Redfield as the representative of the Cat Trust. Free cats, he declared, were indispensable to the comfort and happiness of the American people, and he concluded with a good word for the catsup industry. Representative Catlin, Missouri, opposed the measure on personal grounds, as he feared that his name might render him liable to the duty on returning from a trin abroad. It was all excellent fooling, and the niceties of Parliamentary debate were strictly observed.

The climax came when Representative Littleton moved an amendment providing for the free importation of mice, cat's milk and all Kinds of food likely to suit the taste- of American cats. In the merriment that followed it was not clear whether the Bill was passed or not. V The catch phrase of the day in Wash. ingtoa now is "Why is a, cat V*- •