The San Francisco call., 1904-12-03
Calendars of Both Houses Are Crowded and There
IS Talk of an Extra Session.

bill, the Fowler bill and the Hill BILL
as well as a number of others, are
pending before committees, but no one
has shown any particular desire to
have them passed. In fact one meas
ure is antagonistic to another and,
with no apparent danger to the fin
ances 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.
DISCUSSION OF TRUSTS.
Reduced representation in Southern
States which have by one form or an
other 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 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
reduced representation would require
much more time than a three months
session of Congress which expires by
limitation.
No doubt a number of bills to pro-
hibit or control campaign contributions
will be presented, as that matter be-
came an issue at the close of the re-
cent campaign. Just how it can be
reached is yet to be ascertained, as
law of this kind can be avoided
The trusts will receive attention, at
least in debate, although some doubt Is
expressed about any effective legisla-
tion being passed. Following a cam
paign in which the trusts were made a
vital issue ii is natural to expect that
there must be a great deal of talk on
the subject whenever there is an op
portunity.
Interstate commerce legislation in
some form or another is always pending
in Congress and there may be an effort
TO enlarge the powers of the Interstate
Commerce Commission so as TO allow
it to fix rates. Railroad in
terests have opposed and will
continue to oppose this measure.
Another pending measure is to
permit pooling and this is opposed by
the shippers. With so much contention
there is little prospect that anything
will be done. A bill to amend the law
for the safety of employees of railroads
has been reported and il is expected
that it will pass.
a bill which has agitated Congress
for number of years providing for
eight hours work only, on all Govern
ment contracts, no doubt will be report
eu lTOII the senate committee on La Dor,
which has given much time to hear
ines. bill of similar character was
lost in the last Congress by being
crowded out by other business.
PURE FOOD BILL.
Senator Hepburn 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.
A measure which created a great deal
of interest in the last session and which
no doubt will cause considerable discus
sion if it comes up again is 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 like
ly to get the sites if the bill becomes
law are energetically pushing it to
the front while disappointed rivals are
opposing it.
Senator Fairbanks, who has only
three months to serve as a Senator be-
fore he becomes Vice President, and
who as chairman of the Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds has en-
deavored to secure a bill providing a
building 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 re-
main national legislator There are
| other public building bills pending, but
II is not expected any general omnibus
bill viii be pushed at this session.
Irrigation has become a permanent
legislative topic. interviewer closely
with the public land question ii has re-
suited in setting two House committees
by the ears and creating a 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 divided it is
quite likely that nothing will be done.
RIVER. APPROPRIATIONS.
Two years ago in the long session OF
Congress river and harbor appropria-
ton bill was passed, but it was omitted
in the session which ended last April
1t is the intention to pass q bill at this
session, and the men having il in
charge, remembering that four years
ago Senator Carter of Montana talked
river and harbor bill to death. will
make every effort to have it presented
early and got out of the way of an
other such contingency.
A number of bills for Alaska have
come over from the last session, the
most important being those providing
for Delegate from the Territory and
for governmental 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 recognize the consular SER
vice have been reported to both
houses, but so far they have not been
popular enough to secure q majority
vote in either body.
1t is not yet known whether there
will be any legislation relating to the
Panama canal, although it may be
necessary when Secretary Taft makes
report of his personal investigation
of conditions in the canal zone.
AS usual, the regular appropriation
bills viii contain legislat on that can
not get a hearing in any other way.
Notwithstanding the stringent rules
against riders" on appropriation bills
the short session is prolific with such
riders for claim bills, land legislation
and, in fact, all kinds Of measures that
would fare badly If left to themselves.
NEW SENATORS TAKE OFFICE.
Among otl.er bills { public interest
pending in the Senate or House are
the fOllOWinV. ProvidinC for <ba