The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-03
.Lijte General Legislation Bv
 Congress is Expected
SUBSIDY TALK IS STRONG
Friends of Shipping Bill Were Never So Active-Much Interest in the Presidents Forth
 coming Message.

Washington December 1.-The passage of appropriation bills and as little o,h- CT general legislation as possible. Such in brief is the forecast for the short ses- sion of the Fifty-nlnth Congress which will begin at noon tomorrow
 There has not yet been time for as general an exchange of views among members as is ordinarily desired by lead CTS before expressing their views, but all seem to regard the present situation as simple and as needing comparatively little intercourse to arrive at an under standing. It is evident that for various reasons 1t will not be possible to do much on the appropriation bills before the holi- days and this circumstance will prae- teally have the effect of condensns the consideration of fourteen large supply measures into two months.
 Considering that the aggregate of the appropriations to be made will approx members express the opinion--LR. bvN, innate $l,000. O0O,O0O some senators a1d members express the opinion that Con gress cannot do better than give all of It's time to these measures.
 May Pass Subsidy.
 The ship subsidy bill probably will be an exception to the rule for no general legislation. The friends of the measure have never been more lnsIstent than now They are extremely hopeful and yet very apprehensive. The bill has passed tho Senate and is in committee of the House. The committee has heretofore been uute evenly divided, but the advocates of the bill believe they will be able to put 1t out in duo season, and they hope for its consideration when once reported to the house. Speaker Cannon has given no positive assurance as to hs attitude, but tho biils supporters find encouragsment in his silence.
 One incident that is very materially helping the subsidy Is the recent speech of Secretary Root in support of 1t. The fact that the speech was delivered at Kansas City Is helpful as the ship bill has found it's principal opposition in the interior There have been some significant conferences on the bill among the in- fiuental members of the two houses
 The Senate has on it's calendar two i'm portant House bills the immigration bill and the Philippine tariff bill, but there are snags in the pathways of both of them There is still intense opposition to the Philippine bill especially. and 1t is not believed that it can possibly re- ceve serious consideration during short session.
 Not a few of the members of both houses are anxious to meet the demands of the bankers and others for more elastic currency and 1t Is quite certain that there will be efforts 10 supply this want but there are so many plans tnat even the most sincere believers in tho necessity almost despair of accomplishing anything in that direction during short session.
 The recommendations of the President in the interests of national inheritance tax is awaited with eager interest by many and there is no doubt that large following could be secured for measure of the character he will outline, but as in the matter of currency reform, the few weeks of the session will not suf- fee for adequate consideration. It Is also recognized that the present plethoric condition of the treasury would furnish strong argument against the proposed inc novation.
 For Amending Rate Law. Suggestions looking towards amending the railroad rate law are not expected to bear fruit this session. All these mat ters and many others are certain to re- , ceive attention in debate
 Among the questions slate 2 eral share of discussion the
 at the head of the list, but no
 least idea that any serious now be made to secure the
 which even many republican
 sirab ble The President who
 sires some changes, has rect N ised his congressional callers
 no. ask to have the subject t.-..~-- -.
 this time. The Japanese question, the dis charge of negro soldiers. the desirability O. an income tax law. the result of the late elections and the trusts are also slated for discussion.
 Attention to Smoot Case. ; The Senate will give attention to the case of Senator Reed Shoot, but what it will do about 1t not even the Senate wishes now to contemplate. There has from the first been disposition to put the Smoot matter aside. but with the re- port of the committee on privileges and elections on the calendar. Chairman Bur rows is quite determined to press con- sideratlon, and the fact that the matter must be dealth with is beginning to im- | press itself upon members. The Michigan senator will set the ball rolling Monday. the 10th Inst. in speech in which he will review the entire case. and he will doubtless be followed by other members oe his committee for and against tho Utah senator. The resolution before the Senate merely declares that MT. Shoot Is not entitled to his seat and much opposf- ton Is likely to be made to It's form. IL is considered equivalent to resolution of expulsion. but. unlike a declaration for expulsion in explicit language, it does not require a two-thirds vote to pass 1t and MT Shoots friends will not yield to it's adoption without struggle.
 Much interest attaches to the Presi- dents forthcoming recommendations for the Panama canal. especially because of his recent visit to the canal zone. It is 2 not expected that he will ask much leg , ls;ation beyond the necessary appropria- tiGns and there is general disposition to grant these The increase of the navy will receive much considerations but there is still opposition to the proposed . shir of tAs prednauSht class.