Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-01
A LIVELY SESSION
Numerous Congressional Meas
ures Will Cause Controversy.
MANY INTERESTS INVOLVED
Organized Labor and Capital Will
Watch Legislation.
ENCRoACHMENTs OF EXECUTIVE
Row With the President Over the
Brownsville Affair Thought
to BE Certain.

The new year promises lively times IN
Congress and the life of Congress in 1907,
though short, is likely to be full of incident.
The ball reopens Thursday and the Jig will
be up at II o'clock March 4. Unless an
extra session intervenes there will then be
peace until the following December.
All indications point to great deal of
friction and pulling and hauling, from
start to finish. There are some important
bills on the calendars which must be dis
posed of and whose passage viii be con-
tested at every remaining stage. Or
ganized labor will be on hand to resume the
fight of last session. Great financial in
terests concerned in the anti-immigration
bills the ship subsidy bill and the Philip
pines tariff bill will look out for their well
fare. Pacific coast interests will watch the
Chinese exclusion modification act closely
and fight it at every turn. And all this Is
to be done between times of passing the
great supply bills of the nation, whose
proper consideration alone should consume
all the time. it is claimed by some.
Row With the President.
A row with President Roosevelt is thought
to be certain 1t will start with the Browns
vile affair, will be intensified if the Santo
Domingo treaty is attempted to be revived
ance throughout the session. Very sensi-
tive upon the subject of alleged executive
encroa chment still chatting over some
events of last session, not in a very good
humor over the food of executive recon-
mendatiOns upon a wide variety of SUBJ
jects poured in at this session, the Congress
fguratively is carrying a chip on its Shout
der and looking for trouble
The Brownsville case will afford vent
for the relief of a good deal of the pent-up
feeling aga!Ezt the alleged tendency of the
executive department of the government
to exert undue authority, for one OF the
complaints in this charge is that the exec
utive acted hastily, indicating thereby 1t
is alleged, proneness to take snap 1udg-
ment, and this, all along, has been one of
the chief criticisms by the legislative
against the executive branch.
Resistance of the executive Is also eX-
pected in connection with the anti-immi-
grafton bill. That measure was passed at
the first session of Congress by both houses
of Congress, but in a form unsatisfactory
to the President. 1t was accordingly tied
up in conference committee, instead of be-
ing shaped for enactment, and left for ac-
ton at this session. 1t is said to be as
sured that the House and Senate are still
disposed to hold out for their contention
and ready to fight. The differences be-
tween the executive and Congress relate to
the stringency of the restriction, Congress
not desiring to require the difficult educa-
tional qualifications of the immigrants
which the President thinks advisable.
Interests of Labor.
Labor will have Its hands full in the anti
injunction bill. the eight-hour bill, the pro-
posed modification of the Chinese exclusion
law and the bill reducing the tariff on prod
ucts of the Philippines. 1t is declared to be
the intention of the republican managers
of the House to oppose labor on the anti
injunction bill and to have vote. The
irit iot, Tod
leaders in the last session and in the cam
paign, where the issue was raised and upon
which labor was defeated. it Is claimed,
will rule now.
1t Is question whether the bill limiting
the working hours of railway employees will
be affected by the decision yesterday of
Judge Evans of the federal court in Ken
lucky on the bill passed at the last session
affecting the liability of employers. Judge
Evans formerly a member of the House,
held that the act was not in regulation of
interstate commerce, but related to con-
tract between employer and employe, which
Congress could not regulate. That objec-
ton may be raised against this bill by the
railroad attorneys.
There will certainly be pressure in be-
half Of the bill, however, and 1t is said
that the large number of dreadful railway
accidents during the year, emphasized by
the disaster within sight of the dome night
before last. will stimulate efforts in behalf
of the overworked employees Of the great
transportation systems upon which the pub
lie Is dependent.
Ship Subsidy and Tariff.
The ship subsidy bill will cause debate
President Roosevelt has promised it's advo-
Gates a special message upon the reassem-
bling of Congress urging it's passage. The
bill has passed the Senate and is now in the
House committee where 1t is lC cked by only
one vote. The best judgment at the Capitol
is that a compromise of the provisions of
the pending bill will be reached and that
the bill will then be passed.
President Roosevelt will urge Congress to
ippine products. The same opposition to
the measure which has fought it all along
will be continued, namely, the American to-
bacco and sugar interests. 1t is thought,
however, that partial reduction, If not COM
plete adjustment, Of the duties will re-
suit
The increase of the artillery corps of the
army and the building Of big battleships
for the navy will occupy the military COM
mittees of the two bodies. An extensive
system Of waterway improvements and
further expenditures for public buildings
will be of interest to the rank and file of
the membership of Congress and the finan-
cial experts will wrestle with a bill to re-
form the currency and give more elastic
money system to carry on the overgroWn
trade of the country.
BACK FROM PINE KNOT