Arizona republican., 1907-10-26
IHf SIXIIETH CONGRESS
POSSIBLE LEGISLATION
The Presidents Message Completed
and Ready for Presentation.

and Ready for Presentation.
Washington, d. c. oct. 19.-(Special
correspondence of The Republican,
Within six weeks congress will con-
vene for its siXtieth term and the leg
islatiVe wheels % the government will
be again set in motion after a nine
months interim. There will be many
new faces in the new congress- as is
the case ever two years, owing to
political changes, deaths and voluntary
retirements. For instance, Alabama
will be represented in the senate by
two me-: men, her senators in the last
congress. Messrs. Morgan and Pettus,
having died during the past summer.
The president is ready for the assem-
bling OF congress. having completed
his annual message to that body some
time since. Indications point to a
busy session. Aside from the annual
appropriation bills which always oc-
casion considerable debate of a po-
litical character, intended for home
consumption subjects touching our
foreign policies as we'll as home topics,
will engage the attention of our law
makers for some months during the
next .-ear. The coming session is the
bi-annual long session and can eX-
tend up TO the beginning of the next
short session which meets in Deem
Der. 1908. The fact that the political
conventions OF the two parties will
meet next summer for the purpose of
putting forward their candidates for
the presidential race, will cause the
shortening of the session somewhat.
President Roosevelt's message to
congress will form the basis of con-
siderable legislation. From the tenor
of his recent speeches il is Surmised
that he will recommend the close
surveillance of corporations doing an
interstate business. There are many
who incline to the idea that a nation
al Incorporation act is the ultimate
idea of the president, but whether his
recommendation viii take this shape
Is of course, predetermined. 1t is
highly probable that legislation look
ing to the solution of the railroad
problems that have evolved during the
past few months will be sought by the
president. Other important questions
To come uD win be the increase of the
uation. the despatch Of the war vessels
To the Pacific and the Panama canal.
Questions affecting the army and
navy will also arise in the next con-
gress. An effort will be made to Sc
cure the passage Of a graded pay
bill for the army. navy. marine corps
and revenue cutter service. A bill
has been drafted and will be actively
/ shed. The transfer of the artillery
corps of the army TO the naval estab-
lishment has been recommended at the
instance Of Secretary Taft and this
change will be considered. The ma
tional guard which is more and more
being recognized as a strong arm of
defense of the country, will also come
prominently before congress this win
ter. few years ago the guard was
looked upon as an organization Of tin
soldiers" whose sole claim to credit
was their fine appearance in dress
parades and drills. With the passage
by congress five years ago, of the Dick
Militia Bill, which placed the national
guard under the war department, and
appropriated money for its encour-
agement and advancement to an eff
ficient military basis. this sentiment
has changed and the guard is now re-
garded as an able ally of the United
States army. capable Of responding to
a call To arms and participating in
actual warfare longside the regulars.
The Dick law specified that the ma
tional guard should conform to the or
Fanization Of the regular army within
five years. This period expires on jan
uary 2Ist next. The last annual re-
port of the adjutant general of the
army showed that a considerable por-
ton Of the national guard OrganiZa-
lions do not conform to the regular
establishment as required by the law.
This is due in some cases to the dis
inclination of the militia officers to
adopt the army organization in the
matter of formation Of regiments, to
the failure of the state legislatures to
put the guard on a proper footing, and
to the lack of recruits in scattered
communities to muster the proper mil
itia strength. Since the spring in
spection by army officers. seven COM
panies of the Georgia militia have dis
banded on account of failure to COM
DIV with the law, and in Tennessee
two regiments have combined in orr
der to conform. Congress will be
asked to extend the time of confor-
nation two wears from January 21st
next. and also increase the appropria
ton TO the guard from two to five
million dollars annually. which will in
all probability be done. Another
question affecting the national guard