The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-30
10000
Is the Enormous Number of
Bills introduced
Already in the BEGINNING of
This Congress.
LITTLE LEGISLATION
However Is Likely Barring
Usual Appropriations.
Stringency Indicates Economy
and Possibly a Currency Bill.

Washington, Dec. 3O.-There is
every reason to believe that the first
or present session of the Sixtieth con-
gress will come to an end not later
than May 1, and possibly as early as
April 1 5.
Some Kansas members of congress
who were interested in knowing just
how soon they could get back to Kan
sas to take up certain pressing po-
litfcal matters affecting them were
discussing the matter the other day,
and one of them was so interested
that he took the subject of the con-
ference to Speaker Cannon. The
speaker is the big boss of congress,
and can foretel1 things more closely
than anyone else.
You can make your plans and your
return to Kansas come pretty near to
April 5, and not later than May IT,
is what the speaker is said to have told
the KanSans. 81
There is really no good reason why
the session should not end at that
time, though the prevalent guess as to
adjournment every long session is
about June l.. Two years ago, when
the great rate bill fight was on. it was
June 20 when congress adjourned.
But four years ago, in 1904, just pre-
ceding a presidential nomination and
campaign, the adjournment was on
April 20. Presidential campaigns
make good deal of difference with
the time for adjournment.
There will be little legislation at
the present session, barring the usual
appropriation bills. A currency bill
may be passed. though there is in
some quarters a disposition to let this
subject alone. But there will be moth
ing of vast importance beside the bills
referred to. Other subjects entailing
the expenditure of large sums of
money might have come up, but the
late stringency will make congress go
rather easy on appropriations. The
way will be carefully felt in advance.
For instance, 1t is doubtful If there
will be any salary increase for clerks
in the government service such as had
been nearly agreed upon, year or SO
ago, for the present session. Neither
will there be anything in the way of
waterway Legislation carrying large
sums of money, as desired in certain
sections of the country. 1t is possible
that there may be no omnibus public
building bill, though there is a de-
mand for one. Rivers and harbors
There is one startling thing in con-
nection with this session so far:
Nearly $4,000 bills have been intro
duced. To be exact, the mum Der is a
session only about ten times before
the holiday recess. This is all the
more remarkab BILE swh en- it is consider
ed that up to about the Fifty-fourth
COnSICSS. OI 1917. LIIcl c W as SEluOIIl
such a flood of bills in the entire con-
gress, both sessions; and this session
even is scarcely begun.
Beet sugar people in western Kan
sas will be glad to know that there
will probably be no Philippine tariff
legislation at the present session.
Secretary Taft, who has just returned
from his Philippines trip, is still firm
ly of opinion that this legislation is
due the islands, and that it will not
injure any American industry, but it
is pretty safe to guess that there will
not be legislation along this line.