Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-06

expires. A new treaty is being ne
gotiated and an exclusion law to meet
ttg terms may be necessary. The peo-
pie of the Pacific coast have been In.
s,sting upon more rigid exclusion than
that known as the Plat law, and If
the question Is brought up there will
be quite lengthy debate.
Inspection of immigrants.
Senator Dillingham; has reported
from the committee on immigration
a bill amending the immigration laws,
and it is his intention to push for its
consideration. The principal feature
Of the bill is provision for an agent
of the United States, accopanied by a
surgeon, to be stationed at all import
ant European immigrant ports to in
lspect aliens seeking admission to the
| United States. 1t also provides for a
head tax of 50 an immigrant.
Protection of the President.
Three years ago when congress as
senbled flood of bills were presented
for the protection of the president and
those in line of succession. Some OF
these measures were reported and
even reached the stage of conference
between the two houses when the Fiji
ty-seyenth congress expired. On the
senate calendar Is notice given
by Senator Hoar last April that on
Tuesday, December 6, he would ask
the senate to take UP and consider a
bill for the. protection OF the President.
| Whether or. not some member OF the
Judiciary committee will push the
measure now that the Massachusetts
senator is dead is not known. There
is serious opposition to the bill as it
stands and unless it is materially mod
| flied it probably could not pass.
Currency Matters.
Currency Legislation will be talked
about but it probably will not be
enacted. The Aldrich bill, the Nelson
bill, the Fowler bill and the Hill bill,
as well as number of others, are
pending before committees, but no one
has shown any particular desire to
have them passed In fact one mea-
sure is antagonistic to another, and
with no apparent danger to the fl.
nances of the country, those who are
not experts in the matter of currency
law cannot be induced to push these
measures forward to the exclusion OF
other business.
Disfranchisement and Representation
Reduced representation in southern
states which have by one form or an
other DISTINGUISHED negroes, will be g
theme of discussion, but not action
during the winter The republican ma
tional platform is interpreted by some
of the more radical members of the
party to call for such reduction and
they will go at the subject from the
beginning. 1t is we'll understood that
to bring about anything like a re
duced representation would require
much more time than three months
session of congress which expires by
limitation.
Campaign Contributions.
No doubt a number of bills to pro
hibit or control campaign contribu
lions will be presented as that matter
/ became an issue at the close Of the
recent campaign. Just how it can be
reached is yet to be ascertained as
there are so many ways in which {
law Of this kind can be avoided.
The Trust Question.
The trusts will receive attention, a
least in debate, although some doubt
is expressed about any effective legis
! lation being passed. Following {
campaign in which the trusts were
made a vital issue it is natural to ex
pect that there must be great dea
of talk on the subject whenever there
is an opportunity.
Interstate Commerce Legislation.
i Interstate commerce legislation il
some form or another is always pend
ing in congress and there may be al
effort to enlarge the powers of thu
Interstate com merce commission 81
as to allow it to fix rates. Railroad In
terests have and will continue to or
pose this measure. Another pendin,
measure is to permit pooling and thi
!. is opposed by the shippers. With 81
: much contention there is little pros
pect that anything will be done. 1
bill to amend the law for the safet,
of employees Of railroads has been re
ported and it is expected that it Wi
pass
The Eight Hour Day.
: A bill which has agitated congress
: for number of years providing TO
: eight hours work only, on all govern
i ment contracts, no doubt will be re
y ported from the senate committee o.
| labor which has given much tim
Y to hearings. A bill of similar charat
: ter was lost in the last congress by be
$ ing crowded out by other business
) The same fate may await this measur
should 1t be reported from the con
a mittee.
> Pure Food Legislation.
! Senator Hepburn, Of Idaho, ha
given notice that he will call up tn
4 pure food bill during the first week {
3 the session and the friends of tn
s measure hope to have it passed. Blu
r there is strong opposition which wi
4 take advantage Of the senate rules t
e attempt to defeat the measure by d.
S lay.
e Encamppent Sites.
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