Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-02
GOTH CONGRESS.
All Hands at Sea on I'M
pending Legislation.
Financial Question Expected to
Hold Center Of Stage.
Amendments to Railroad Rate Law
Among Possibilities.

Washington, Dec. l.-NcNe" III me ne
ginning OF any Congress have the lead
ers of both parties found themselves
more at sea concerning legiSlai ion than
they are on the eve Of the ccnveninS
of the COth Congress tomorrow. Very
little except the financial situation Is
engaging the attention OF any member
OF either house and all the members
of both houses, whether leaders or fol-
lowers. confess their inability 10 fore
cast what will be done on the subject.
| All OF them lament the recent situa-
| ton, but all of them do nos believe
that the remedy for it is TO be found
| in legislation Those who believe that
such a remedy will prove effective ar"
| in the majority, but their opinions as
to means vary so widely that all admit
the great difficulty of uniting. There
| is some general division along party
| lines, but there is also great divergence
Of view among both Republicans ana
Democrats. In view Of this state "l
affairs it is evident that very little a.
tention will be given Other questions
until there can be some cry"'al!i@a'l"h
or the financial problem.
In his speech of acceptance last night
Sneaker Cannon limited AT the posSi-
bility of some amendments to the rail-
| ROAD rate law, and but for the disturb
anct- liz the money crnt"rS there IS
| little doub, that these would have been
undertaken curing the session. IL Is
nossible that something may be at
TEMPTED along that line, but all plans
to that end are now quite neDulctls.
The Democrats have already indicated
purpose of trying to force the tarIfl
to the front, but the Republicans are
so largely in the majority IN botn
houses and are 50 united in their ann
OF post poning action upon this import
ant subject until after the presidential
election that their opponents nave very
little hope of accomplishing anything
by gaining recognition for a lew
speeches for campaign consumption.
Among other questions which Will re-
| ceive serious attention Will be una OF
taxing tie sales made on the stock eX-
changes. There will be some antitrust
talk but the financial panic will prob
ably have the effect of curtailmg 10
considerable extent.
The Philippine tariff bill and the bills
of the admission of New Mexico and
Arizona as states will be introduced
early in the session and it is probable
that all of them will receive consider
able attention, but it is not 50 probable
that any of them will become laws at
this session.
The friends of the scheme for deep
cning the channel OF the Mississippi
river will try to inaugurate that enter
prise during the session and in fact
there will be an effort looking to the
systematic development OF ali The land
WATERWAYS The President is expected
to recommend in his message char-
mel of rot less thar IA feet from New
Orleans to keokuk, which would
initiate an issue which will be pressed
until the desired end is attained.
1t is also understood that the Presi-
dent will recommend an appreciate
enlargement of the navy and while
Congress does not seem prepared 10
follow him completely in this matter
the prospect is good for some increase
Of the navy.
A number of resolutions of inquiry
growing out of the financial situation
will he introduced by Democratic SEN
ator5 and members in the early session.
Even now the men who Go most TO
formulate the policies Of the two
houses are considering an adjournment
of the session as early as possible.
They are using the fact that the ma
tional conventions will probably be
held in June to influence both Repub-
leans and Democrats and the response
is generally favorable to having the
session come to close not later than
the last Of May.
The Speaker will try to get the House
committees into working order before
the holidays and a caucus Of the Re-
publican senators will probably be held
tomorrow after the adjournment of the
Senate for the reorganization Of the
senate committees. .S2A