The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-03


 acted The Aldrich bill, the Nelson bill, the Fowler bill and the Hill bill, as well as a number of others, are pending be- fore committees, but no one has shown any particular desire to have them passed. In fact one measure Is an- tagonistic to another and, with no ap- parent danger to the finances of the country, those who are not expert in the matter of currency law cannot be in- duced to push these measures forward to the exclusion of other business.
 Reducing Southern Representation.
 Reduced representation in southern states which have by one form or another disfranchised negroes will be a theme of discussion, but not action. during the winter. The republican national platform Is interpreted by some of the more rad ical members of the party to call for such reduction and they will go at the subject from the beginning. It is well un- derstood that to bring about anything like a reduced representation would re- quire more time than three months session of congress which expires by linn itation.
 No doubt a number of bills to prohibit or control campaign cntributions will be presented as that matter became an is-
  Just how it can be reached is yet to be ascertained as there are so many ways in which al aw of this kind can be avoided.
 The trusts will receive attention, at least in debate, although some doubt is expressed about any effective legis- laton being passed. Following cam paign in which the trusts were made vital issue it is natural to expect that there must be great deal of talk on 41,. tc tunity.
 l Interstate commerce legislation in some form or another is always pending in congress and there may be an effort to l enlarge the powers of the interstate com merce commission so as to allow it to
 fix rates. Railroad interests have and will continue to oppose this measure. 1 Another pending measure is to permit , pooling and this is opposed by the ship pers. With so much contention there Is 1 little prospect that anything will be | done. bill to amend the law for the l safety of employees of railroads has been reported and it is expected that 1t will , pass.
 A bill which has agitated congress for number of years providing for eight | hours work only, on all government con- tracts, no doubt will be reported from the senate committee on labor, which has given much time to hearings. bill of similar character was lost in the last congress by being crowded out by other business. The same fate may await this measure should it be reported from the committee.
 Senator Heyburn of Idaho, has given notice that he will call up the pure food bill during the first week of the session and the friends of the measure hope to have it passed. But there Is a strong opposition which will take advantage of the senate rules to attempt to defeat the measure by delay.
 A measure which created great deal of interest in the last session and which | no doubt, will cause considerable discus sion if 1t comes up again, is a bill pro- viding for several large camp sites, in different sections of the country. for the use of the regular army and militia for drill purposes. The localities most likely to get the sites if the bill becomes ] law are energetically pushing 1t to the front while disappointed rivals are op- posing 1t.
 Senator Fairbanks to Be Active. Senator Fairbanks, who has only three months to serve as a senator, before he becomes vice president. and who, as chairman of the committee on public buildings and grounds. has endeavored to secure a bill providing buildings for the departments of state. justice, and commerce. and labor, will try to bring about favorable action on the bill in the ninety days he is to remain a national legislator. There are other public build ing bills pending, but it is not expected any general omnibus bill will be pushed at this session.
 Irrigation has become permanent legislative topic Interwoven closely with the public land question, 1t has re- suited in setting two house committees by the ears and creating wide differ ence of opinion among senators from western states. Several measures in- tended as amendments to the irrigation law have been suggested and are before congress. If the western men were united they no doubt could secure some legislation but being devided, 1t is quite likely that nothing will be done.
 Two years ago in the long session of congress a river and harbor appropria- tions bill was passed, but it was omitted in the session which ended last April. It is the intention to pass a bill at this session, and the men having 1t in charge, remembering that four years ago Sen ator Carter of Montana talked river and harbor bill to death, will make every effort to have it presented early and
  contingency.
 number of bills for Alaska have come over from the last session, the most im- portant being those providing for dele gate from the territory and for gov- ernmental aid in building roads. Both met with serious opposition last session and there Is no intimation that there has been a change of sentiment during the recess.
 Bills to reorganize the consular service lave been reported to both houses but so far they have not been popular enough to secure majority vote in either body
 It Is not yet known whether there will be any legislation relating to the Panama Canal althought 1t may be necessary when Secretary Taft makes report of his personal investigation of conditions in the canal zone.
 The Appropriation Bills.
 As usual the regular appropriation bills will contain legislation that cannot get a hearing in any other way. Notwith- standing the stringent rules against rid CTS" on appropriation bills the short session is prolific with such riders for claim bills, land legislation. and in fact