Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-02
CONGRESS
FACING BIG
PROBLEMS
SIxTIETH SESSION C0NvENES
AT NOON TODAY
ANTITRUST TALK LIKELY TO BE
sILENcED
Republicans VIII Attempt to Block
All Movements Looking to an
Early Reform of the
Tariff
Nv Assnclnted Press.

WASHINGTON, Dec. L-Never at the
beginning of any congress have the con
gressional leaders of both parties found
themselves more at sea concerning legis-
lation than they are on the eve of the
| convening of the present assembly o. the
national legislature, which will take place
| tomorrow at noon.
| Very little except the financial situa-
| ton is engaging the attention of any
member of either house, and all the mem
bers of both houses, whether leaders or
| followers, confess their inability to fore
cast 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 legisla
ton.
| 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 difficulty
of getting together. There is some gem
eral division along party lines, but there
| is also great divergence of views among
both Republicans and Democrats.
| In view of this state of affairs, 1t is
evident that very little attention will be
given TO otner questions until there ca n
be some capitalization Of thought on the
financial problem.
May Amend Rate Law
In his speech of acceptance last night,
Speaker Cannon intimated the possibility
of some amendments to the railroad rate
law, and but for the disturbance in the
money centers there is little doubt that
this would have been undertaken during
the session.
1t is still possible that something may
be attempted in that line, but all plans to
that end are now quite nebulous. The
Democrats have already indicated pur
-. A~tf o. fke.
front, but the Republicans are so largely
In the majority in both houses. and are
so well united in their purpose of post
poning action upon this important sub
ject until after the presidential election.
that their opponents have little hope OF
accomplishing anything beyond getting
recognition for few speeches for cam
paign consumption.
Among other subjects which will re-
ceive serious attention will be the ques-
ton of taxing the sales made on the
stock exchange, and while it is appre-
ciated that even an effort in this direc-
ton may affect the market, there are a
number of senators and members who
attribute most of the disturbances In the
financial market to these speculative pro
cesses and who would like to make the
road as rocky as possible for them.
1t is too early, however, to say whether
SUCH efforts at legislation will be success
full There will be some antitrust talk,
but the financial panic will probably have
the effect of curtailing it to consider
able extent.
Statehood Bills Up
The Philippine tariff bill and the bills
for the admission of New Mexico Ind
Arizona as states will be introduced
early in the session, and 1t is probable
that all of them will receive considerable
attention, but not so probable that any of
them will become law at this session.
The friends of the scheme for the deep
ening of the channel of the Mississippi
river will undertake to inaugurate that
enterprise during the session, and in that
connection there will be an effort looking
to the systematic development of all the
inland waterways
The president Is expected to recon-
mend in his message a channel of not
less than fourteen feet from New Or
leans to Keokuk, and thus initiate a cam
paign which will be pressed until the
desired end is attained
It is also understood the president will
recommend an enlargement of the navy.
While congress does not seem prepared
to completely follow In this matter, the
prospect is good for some increase of the
navy.
A number of resolutions of inquiry
RIOWlIS OUT VI lluduCidl SiludIlOu WI
be introduced by Democratic senator's.
Some of these will make inquiry con-
cerning the recent issue of certificates by
the treasury department, some will pro
pound questions concerning the distribu-
ton in the national banks of the treasury
reserve, and still others will deal with
recent phases of the financial question.
Session to Be Short
Even now the men who do most to
formulate the policies of the two houses
are putting their heads together with a
view of securing an adjournment of the
session at as early a date as possible.
They are using the fact that the ma
tional conventions will probably be held
in June to influence both Republicans and
Democrats, and the response received Is
generally favorable to the view that the
session should come to close not later
than the last of May.
The speaker will make an effort to get
the house committees in working order
before the holidays, and caucus of the
Republican senators will probably be held
tomorrow after the adjournment of the
senate for the purpose of starting the
machinery toward the organization of
tt,a Sam ta rOrnmifteas