Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-19
LEGISLATIVE OUTLOOK
Bills That May Become Laws
This Session.
RAILWAY RATE REGULATION
A Compromise Of the Views Of Both
Sides on the Subject.
REFORMING CONSULAR SERVICE
Supervision Of Food Supplies-State-
hood Legislation is Indefinite
Outlook for Ship Subsidy.
RAILWAY RATE REGULATION
REFORMING CONSULAR SERVICE

The prospective legislation of this session
OF Congress Is beginning to take shape as
result of partial consideration, and 1t Is
becoming possible to approximately fore
cast the outcome AS stated In The Star
Saturday. the House leaders look forward
to adjournment sine die about May 10, and
they are now totaling up the probable list
of important bills that may become laws.
The list Includes:
a railway rate regulation law, embody-
ing compromise OF the views of the adj
vocates OF most stringent regulation and
the conservative thought upon that subject.
A law amending the present Philippines
tariff act, which will probably also repre-
sent compromise of the recommendations of
the administration. Sentiment In the Sem
ate Is strongly opposed to reducing the
tariff to the extent suggested by the Secre-
tary of War and the President. and 1t
seems probable that this sentiment will
prevail.
A law reforming the consular service and
placing 1t upon a basis of more secure
tenure of office for incumbents as we'll as
establishing the merit system of promotion.
There will be q fight in the House over this
ELL. but the administration men think they
will push 1t through.
Supervision Of Food Supplies.
A law making a step in the direction OF
governmental supervision of food supplies.
but probably not going as far as the bills
now pending would carry. The pure food
bills are being stoutly contested by packers
and manufacturers. but modified form OF
legislation on the subject is considered
probable.
An omnibus bill for the construction OF
public buildings in various states. Strong
pressure is being brought to bear upon the
e <1Ia rjv
loosen up, and members of the House and
Senators confidently expect to pass bill.
Statehood legislation is indefinite The
senatorial managers of the joint statehood
measure still claim that the bill will pass
in the form in which 1t came from the
House, but their optimism is not shared by
some other senators who also are in touch
with the feeling in the Senate. The opinion
is held by some influential senators that the
bill may be amended by permitting Arizona
and New Mexico to vote upon whether they
will come in as one state remain terri
tories little longer.
With the possibility In view Of those two
territories electing to remain in single bless
edness, legislation is in course of prepara-
ton to correct alleged abuses of the tax
alton laws in the territories. Some senators
think that the certainty of the passage OF
these corrective laws may dissipate the OPP
position in certain quarters to the joint
statehood bill
Outlook for Ship Subsidy Bill.
The outlook for the ship subsidy bill Is
pretty blue There is strong opposition to
it in the House on the score of economy.
and the advocates of the measure will have
to do mighty good job of persuading be-
fore they win over to their support some
men in high position.
II the pending efforts In the German
reichstag are successful in abating the new
German tariff against American products
for a period of one year there will no no
minimum and maximum tariff bill at this
session In that event it is expected that
there will be tariff discussion at all save
a scattering of speeches here and there for
use in the congressional campaign.
An effort will be made to revive the bill
reducing the representation in Congress of
states that deny the right of suffrage to
voters. movement is now afoot to agt-
tate the question, but it is doubtful If it
will he successful