The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-02
THEY ARE ALL AT SEA.
Members of Congress Can't Tell
Where to Begin This Year.

Where to Begin This Year.
Washington, Dec. 2.-Never at the
beginning of any congress have the
congressional leaders of both parties
found themselves more at sea con-
corning legislation than they are on
the eve of the converting of the pres
ent assembly of the national legisla-
ture. 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 followers, confess their in
ability to forecast what may be done
on that subject. All of them lament
the present situation, but all of them
do not believe that the remedy for it
is to be found in legislation. Those
who believe that such a remedy will
prove efficacious are in the majority,
but their opinions as to means vary
SO widely that all admit the great diff
iculty of getting together. There is
some general division along party lines
but there is also great divergence of
views among both Republicans and
Democrats in view of this state of af-
fairs and it is evident that very little
attention will be given to other ques-
tons until there can be some crystalli-
cation of thought on the financial
problem.
In his speech of acceptance, of the
caucus nomination for speaker, Jo-
seph G. Cannon intimated the posi-
bility of some amendments to the rail-
road rate law and but for the distur-
bance in the money centers there is
little doubt that this would have been
during the session. 1t is
still possible that something may be
in that line, but all plans
to that end are now quite nebulous.
The Democrats have already indicated
a purpose of trying to force the tariff
to the front, but the Republicans are
so largely in the majority in both
houses and are so we'll united on this
important subject until after the cleo
ton that their opponents have very
little hope of accomplishing anything
beyond getting recognition. for a few
speeches for cam paign conSum ption.
Among other subjects which will re-
ceive serious attention will be the
question of taxing the sales made on
the stock exchanges and while it is
appreciated that even an effort in this
direction may affect the market there
are a number of senators and men, |
oers who attribute most of the dis ,
in the financial market to |
-hese speculative processes and who |
would like to make the road as rocky |
as possible for them. 1t is too early, |
however, to say whether such efforts |
1t legislation will be successful. There
will be some antitrust talk, but the |
effect of curtailing it to a considerable |
extent. The Philippine tariff bill and |
The bills for the admission of, New
Mexico and Arizona as states will be |
Introduced early in the session and it I
s. probable that all of them will re-
,eive considerable attention, but not !
80 probable that any of them will be- I
come a law at this session. The
friends of the scheme for the deepen !
ng of the channel of the Mississippi T
liver will undertake to inaugurate /
hat enterprise during the session and |
N that connection there will be an eff |
Tort looking to the systematic develop |
nent of all the inland waterways.
Ic- To
mend in a message a channel of not |
ess than fourteen feet from New Or /
cans, La, to Keokuk, Iowa, and thus
initiate a campaign which will be |
pressed until the desired end is attain
I'd It is also understood that the pres |
dent will recommend an enlarge !
nent of the navy While congress does |
lot seem prepared to completely fol- |
ow in this matter, the prospect is
good for some increase or the navy.
A number of resolutions of inquiry |
growing out of the financial situation |
Will be introduced by Democratic SEN
ators. Some Of these will make in
Iuiry concerning the recent issue of
nent; some will PROFOUND questions
concerning the distribution in the ma
ional banks of the treasury reserves;
md still others will deal with different
phases of the question.
Even now the men who do most to |
formulate the policies of the two
houses are putting their heads togeth-
er with the view of securing an adj
ournment of the session at as early a
late as possible. They are using the
act that the national conventions will |
probably be held in June to influence
both Republicans and Democrats and
he response received is generally ia
yorable to the view that the session
,hould come to a close not later than
he last Of May.
The speaker will make an effort to
ret the house committees in working
,rder before the holidays.
NO OPPOSITION TO CANNON.