The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-06-28
TASKS AHEAD OF CONGRESS.
The Prospects Are Cor the Longest
Session of the Last Decade.

Session Of the Last Decade.
Monday, November 13, is the exact
date which Speaker Cannon is urging
the President to designate for the be-
ginning OF the extra session Of con-
gress. The reason assigned by the
speaker for his preference for this
date is that if congress is not con-
vened then members Will be left free
until after the November elections.
Evidently the number 13 has no ter,
rors for him, as ne IS insistent IN
pressing his suggestion upon the
President, who has promised to con-
sider carefully the speakers argu-
ment.
|. The developments of hardly more
than two months Of the new admin
istration make it plain that the first
session of the ffty-ninth congress
will be confronted with an unusual
program Of legislation. Long before
the last session ended it was seen that
the railroad d-rate problem must be
wrestled with as soon as the new
congress assembled. Action on the
Esch-Townsend bill was deferred in
the senate with that end in view.
Tariff legislation was regarded as
something to be dealt with in the
distant future.
Since then the revenue problem, if
not the tariff problem, has grown in
prominence. The certainty that it
will call for legislation by congress, if
not at the prospective extra session,
at the session beginning in December
is admitted or all hands. The stand
patters, Ms.o were scoffing at the idea
Of such legislation in March, now con-
cede the urgency Of the situation.
The determined attitude Of the Presi-
dent and the earnest character Of his
supporters precludes the likelihood
that long consideration Of both rate
and revenue measures can be avoid
ed. On top Of that there has been a
growing agitation for modification of
the immigration laws. That is a sub
ject which always provokes congress
sional controversies. Neither party is
altogether united as to the proper i'm
migration policy.
Those three topics and the enact
ment of the usual appropriation bills
will easily fill session of six months,
and, if the President presses vigor-
ously for final action on all these mat
ts.-s, the session can easily extend far
into rex summer. There will be
great 2ressuSe foc many other meas
uces OF & general character, as is US
aal at the first regular session Of a
congress. One Of these will be the
statehood bill. The injustice Of keep
ing certain Of the territories from
statehood now is conceded, and the
effort to enact some kind Of state
hood law next winter will be strong.
Under whip and spur the house, as
usual, can crowd through its business
but the senate will insist on time for
oopc;aorof,op Of iyoporto nj
bills. There Will be a long debate on
the railroad bill; another long debate
on whatever revenue bill is sent over
from the house. Immigration bills
or any importance never pass the
senate, except after full discussion.
The statehood bill will be the signal
for delivery Of numerous speeches on
the democratic side.
Ten years ago it was nothing extra
ordinary for congress to remain in
Washington till July or August. The
late Speaker Reed inaugurated the
policy of dispatching business in the
house, and its influence was felt in the
senate, so that the long-session con-
gress began to adjourn late in the
spring. That policy has been followed
Invariably in recent years, and both
parties have been free to enter upon
the congressional campaign. 1t is ex-
pected that this will not be the case
next year. even if an extra session be
called in the autumn.-Washingt
Post.
Imitation Cotton.
Imitation cotton from pine wood is,