Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-30
AREURGENT MATTERS
Legislation Necessary at the Coming
Session.
OTHER THINGS MUST Be SUBORDINATED
Appropriations, Army Reorganiza-
ton and Reapportionment.
VIEWS OF SENATOR ALLISON

Senator Allison Of Iowa. who arrived III
Washington today from the west. says that
three matters of legislation must pass the
coming session of Congress, and that all
others will be made subordinate.
These the appropriation bills, an
army reorganization bill and reapportion-
ment BILL" said Mr.. Allison to a Star re-
porter this afternoon. 'All other matters
are subsidiary and can, if necessary, he
laid aside until later The three measures
enumerated however, must be passed. 9th
erwise an extra session of Congress will be
necessary.
LAS for the subject of reorganiZing the
army, it is, of course. impossible to tell To
just what extent Congress will go in liking
the strength of the permanent establish
ment. Something, however, must he done
at this session. Next July the statute
which authorized the existing army expires.
and the regular army will then resolve Itself
into band of some 1900 men. That NUM-
ber of course, is not of sufficient strength
for the needs of the country, ana Congress
must do something to increase it. great
deal will depend upon the recommendations
of the executive branch of the government
in this respect. and the strength ol ine
army WILL in my opinion. be regulated in
accordance with the exact military needs
of the nation.
Reduction of Taxes.
1T is probable also that something VIII
be done toward decreasing the amount of
revenue now accruing from the war tax
law In just what form this measure VIII
be reported from the finance committee and
pass the Senate l am unable TO predict. The
bill must first come over from the House
before such an opinion can be expressed
Congress may decide to drop several items
from the bill, as to effect substantial
decrease in the amount of revenue now de-
rived from the act. Secretary Gage has
recommended that items be abrosated
which shall decrease the total amount by
s3o090,000. That recommendation may be
followed.
the Nicaraguan canal bill will pass during
this session not. This is a matter which
may, if necessary, be postponed for action
until later date, but whether il will or not
remains to be seen. l have no doubt, how
ever, that the matter will be discussed. 1t
is an easy matter to talk of such things.
but an entirely different one to vote upon
them.
The Shipping Bill.
LAS for the shipping BILL there is no tell
ing what will be done in this direction. The
fact is, the coming session Of Congress Will
be fully occupied with matters of absolute
necessity, so that it is hard to predict the
future of measures which. IL necessary, can
be laid aside for the time being. There are
only ninety days of this session. COM
pardtfVeiy snort tlme NOW, the IutuTe OF
the shipping bill, therefore. Is uncertain.
There is no doubt that something should be
done toward encouraging an increase in
our merchant marine facilities. This coun-
try ought to carry its own commerce. but
just what shape bill with this end in view
will take when up for passage Is a matter
that cannot be foretold. There is a great
deal of sentiment throughout the middle
west well as the coast states, in favor
of bill of this character but whether mat
ters of necessity during the session will
crowd the subject out of the list of items
to be considered, it Is impossible to say. 1t
may be discussed, but that does not neces-
sarily mean that final action will be taken.
Southern Representation.
Il do not think anything will be done this
session in the direction of the passage of
bill designed to decrease the southern rep =
resentation in Congress.
Economy of appropriations? Why. GER
tainly. That is always the aim of the ap-
committee and the Senate it,
self. We will certainly do everything pos
sible to keep the appropriation bills down 10
the lowest possible notch. We will not nee
essarily stint any particular branch Of the
government, but the disbursements to be
authorized will be held down as far as pos
sible all along the line"