The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-12-07
BILLION DOLLARS
APPROXIMATELY
VIAL Be APPRoPRIATEp BY
v. 8. coRGREss-ITs SESSION
BEGAN MONDAY.
euT LITTLE WILL De DONE
TILL AFTER HOLIDAYS
General Legislation to be Confined 40
Closely AZ Possible to the Supply
Measures, Ship Subsidy Being an
ExeeptlOn--Reed smOot Case.

E&eeptIon@Reed Smoct Case.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The pas.
sage of the appropriation bills and as
little other general legislation as pos.
BILE.
Such in brief is the forecast for the
short session of the Fifty-ninth Con-
gress, which will begin at noon tomor-
row.
There has not yet been time for
as general an exchange of views
among the members as is ordinarily
desired by leaders before expressing
themselves, but all seem to regard the
present situation as simple and as
needing comparatively little inter-
course to arrive at an understanding.
1t is evident that for various reasons
1t will not be possible to do much on
the appropriation bills before the holt
days, and this circumstance will prob
ably have the effect of condensing the
consideration of the fourteen large
supply measures into two months.
Considering that the aggregate of the
appropriations to be made will APP
proximate $1,000, 100000 some Sena-
/ tors and members express the opinoin
that Congress cannot do better than
give all of its time to these measures.
The ship subsidy bill will probably
be an exception to the rule for no
general legislation. The friends of
that measure have never been more
insistent than now. They are ex-
tremely hopeful, and yet very appre-
hensive. The bill has passed the Sen
ate and is in committee in the House.
Evenly Divided.
The committee has heretofore been
evenly divided, but the advocates of
the bill believe that they will be able
to get it out in due season, and they
hope for it's consideration when once
reported to the House. Speaker Can
non has given no positive assurances
as to his attitude, but the bill's sup
porters find encouragement in his
silence.
One incident that is very material
ly helping the subsidy is the recent
speech of Secretary Root in support
of it. The fact that the speech was
delivered at Kansas City is helpful,
as the ship bill has found its princi-
pal opposition in the interior of the
country. There have been some sig
nificant conferences on the bill
among the most influential members
of the two houses.
The Senate has on it's calendar two
| important House bills, the immigra-
ton bill and the Philippine tariff bill,
but there are snags in the pathways
of both of them. There is still in
tense opposition to the Philippine bill,
especially, and it Is not believed that
it can possibly receive serious con-
sideration during a short session.
Not a few members of both Houses
are anxious to meet the demands of
the bankers and others for a more
elastic currency, and 1t is quite GER
tain that there will be efforts to sup
ply this want, but there are SO many
plans that even the most sincere be-
levers in the necessity almost des.
pair of accomplishing anything in
that direction during short session.
inheritance Tax.
The recommendations of the Presi-
dent in the interest of a National in
heritance tax is awaited with eager
interest by many, and there is no
doubt that large following could be
secured for a measure of the charac-
ter he will outline, but as in the mat
ter of currency reform, the few weeks
of the session will not suffice for ade-
quate consideration. 1t is also rec
ognized that the present plethoric con.
dition of the Treasury would furnish
strong argument against the proposed
innovation.
Suggestions looking toward amend
ing the railroad rate law are not ex-
pected to bear fruit this session. All
these matters and many. others are
certain to receive attention in debate.
Among the questions slated for
liberal share of discussion, the tarin
stands at the head of the list, but no
one has the least idea that any ser
ious effort will now be made to secure
the notifications which even many
Republicans think desirable. The
President, who himself desires some
changes, has recently promised his
Congressional callers that he will not